Companion Animals

Dogs, cats, and other companion animals are the animals most people share their lives with — yet gaps in the law still allow puppy mills to sell sick animals through retail stores, dogs to spend their lives on chains, and shelters to euthanize animals that could be rehomed. LOHV chapters fight the laws that cause this suffering and advance the ones that end it.

What We Are Working On

• Pet Retail Sales Reform: LOHV supports bans on the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits sourced from commercial breeding operations. Hundreds of cities and several states have passed these laws. We work to extend them everywhere our chapters operate.
• Tethering & Chaining Laws: Dogs left on chains 24/7 suffer physically and psychologically, and are statistically more likely to bite. LOHV supports laws that limit chaining duration, require adequate shelter, and establish minimum space requirements.
• Hot Car Rescue: Many states lack laws that allow bystanders or officers to rescue animals from dangerously hot vehicles without civil liability. LOHV supports emergency intervention laws that protect both the rescuer and the animal.
• Declawing Bans: Cat declawing — the amputation of the last bone of each toe — has been banned in New York State and several countries. LOHV supports extending these protections to additional states.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a puppy mill?

A puppy mill is a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation that prioritizes profit over animal welfare — dogs are often kept in small cages, given minimal veterinary care, and bred repeatedly. LOHV supports laws that cut off their retail sales channel and require transparency in the supply chain.

Is it legal to leave a dog chained outside?

It depends on the state and municipality. Many jurisdictions have no restrictions; others limit chaining to a set number of hours or require minimum tether lengths. LOHV works to strengthen and standardize these protections.

How does LOHV get companion animal laws passed?

We identify sympathetic candidates, interview them on their positions, endorse those who commit to supporting animal-protection legislation, and then campaign to elect them. Once in office, we lobby those officials to advance the bills we care about.