Letter from President

Dear Future P.U.P.P.I. Member, 

​

On behalf of the People United to Promote Pet Integrity (P.U.P.P.I.), we are delighted to welcome you to join our organization. Our mission to protect the health of pets and the integrity of our industry by promoting freedom of choice – to shop or adopt – is at the heart of what our organization does. With many industry executives intimately involved in carrying out our mission, you have incomparable benefits and access to our top-notch Government & Public Relations teams, who are annually rated at the top of “City & State” New York’s list highlighting the most influential lobbying firms in New York State. 

​

We hope you capitalize on what our association offers: A centralized location of pet industry executives who are intent on saving the small businesses we have built. This coalition has laid the foundation for future members, set goals and metrics for the organization, and created a unified voice to save the industry we love. 

​

Recently, P.U.P.P.I. has accomplished the following successes: 

​

• Defeated Suffolk County Bill No. 1138-2018

  • No. 1138-2018 would have increased pet internet sales/scams and decreased the veterinarian inspection threshold.

  • This Bill would have destroyed the Suffolk County Pet Industry and led to customers purchasing unhealthy pets. 

​

• Successfully & Legally Won Riverhead, NY’s Pet Store Ban

  • P.U.P.P.I. emerged victorious by winning an injunction against the town’s ban. 

​

• Helped Pass Albany Bill S.6870/A.6246

  • This bill, signed into law in 2022, will create uniform standards of care for cats and dogs held or transported by animal shelters or rescues across New York State. Previously, shelters and rescues placed law-abiding pet store owners at a competitive disadvantage by having no requirement to improve the health and well-being of millions of animals across the state.  

​

For ten years, P.U.P.P.I.’s leadership fought the progressive legislature’s efforts to ban pet stores across New York. Until 2022. We successfully pushed back the bill's implementation to two years, which allows our industry to fight against this bill by unifying the sector with one voice for our survival. 

​

As an active member, you will gain insight into our legislative & regulatory strategy to keep our industry alive. 

​

We hope you are with us because the pet industry depends on you joining us! 

​

Sincerely, 

 

Jessica Selmer
President of P.U.P.P.I.
Co-Owner of Selmer’s Pet Land