Find your state
Select a state to open its page. States outlined in orange have a full BOB research page. For states we haven’t covered yet, you’ll go to our state laws page.
The national picture
18
states license commercial dog breeders. 15 inspect them on a regular schedule.
22
states have a puppy lemon law that gives buyers recourse for a sick puppy.
18
states have neither breeder licensing nor a puppy lemon law.
8
states ban pet stores from selling puppies from breeders or brokers.
While most licensed commercial breeders are in the Midwest, unlicensed breeders and even puppy mills are found in every state. Licensing only tells part of the story, so each state page also shows what BOB’s research has found about breeders selling online without a license.
Looking for the laws in every state?
Our Commercial Breeder & Pet Store Laws page compares breeder licensing, inspections, puppy lemon laws, pet store rules and federal USDA requirements across all 50 states.
About this page
BOB researches the commercial dog breeding industry so the public can make informed decisions. State figures come from BOB’s database of licensed and unlicensed breeders, brokers, pet stores and online sellers. Law summaries are an overview, not legal advice, and cities and counties may have stricter rules than the state.
Questions or corrections: research@bailingoutbenji.com