Pets

John Stossel | 10.8.2025 2:50 PM

When Mike Ricci wanted to buy his daughter a puppy, he discovered that in his state, "There were pet stores but none that sell puppies [or kittens]."

Ricci, being president of Stossel TV, investigated.

He discovered that eight states now ban retail sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits. Animal activists want the bans extended to all states.

They say this is needed to save animals (and protect pet buyers) from abusive puppy mills—places that breed animals over and over, often resulting in inbred and unhealthy puppies.

The activists tell people: buy only from "responsible breeders."

But how does one know who that is?

"Every site says, 'This is the best breeder…ethically sourced. Treated well,'" says Ricci in this week's video.

"They say, 'Don't trust the pet stores!' But am I supposed to be........

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