Coronavirus (COVID-19) Alert
The Health Department is currently reviewing all complaints and responding primarily to those that pose an imminent threat to public health or safety.
Non-emergency complaints will be logged and responded to when regular operations resume.
You can make a complaint about any type of pet shop, including ones that only sell dogs and cats, for not following City and State rules.
You can report any pet shop for:
- Unsanitary conditions
- Operating without a permit
- Selling, giving away, trading, displaying, transferring, or delivering rabbits
- Failing to provide appropriate care to animals
- Selling animals that are illegal in New York City
- Operating without an Animal Handling Certificate
In addition, you can report a pet shop that sells dogs and cats for:
- Selling a dog without a City dog license. This is only permitted if the buyer provides a written statement that the dog will live outside of New York City
- Failing to microchip a dog or cat before it is sold and registering the microchip with the owner's contact information
- Getting dogs and cats from a breeder that does not hold a US Department of Agriculture "Class A" license or have a good inspection history
- Failing to provide a complete health and medical history about dogs and cats, including where the animals came from and the breeder's inspection history
- Selling dogs or cats from a source prohibited by law
- Failing to post signs about the availability of animal records
- Failing to spay or neuter a dog or cat that weights more than 2 pounds at least 8 weeks before it is sold
- Agency: New York State Attorney General
- Division: New York State Attorney General Local Office
- Phone Number: (212) 416-8000
- Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
