Attorney General sues Bensonhurst pet store for violating Puppy Mill Ban • Brooklyn Paper
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday that she has sued Quality Canines Inc., which operates as Puppy Boutique in Bensonhurst, for allegedly illegally advertising and selling hundreds of puppies in violation of the Puppy Mill Pipeline Act. The lawsuit seeks to immediately halt the company’s sale of dogs.
The landmark legislation was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in December 2022 and took effect in December 2024, permanently banning New York pet stores from selling dogs, cats and rabbits to prevent animal abuse at puppy mills and protect consumers from purchasing sick pets.
Despite receiving a letter from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) in February 2024 informing Puppy Boutique that the law would take effect at the end of the year, an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that, for more than a year and a half, the owners continued advertising puppies for sale through social media accounts, including Instagram and TikTok, and on websites such as thepuppyboutique.com and puppypetite.com. The advertisements offered “teacup and toy” breeds, including Maltese, Chihuahuas and Pomeranians, along with pricing and store contact information. At the time of publication, both websites remained active.
Attorney General James said pets are valued family members and that anyone bringing a new addition into their home deserves a healthy animal.
“Puppy Boutique illegally sold puppies to New Yorkers, exposing them to heartbreak and exorbitant veterinary bills for animals raised in inhumane conditions,” James said in a statement. “My office will continue to enforce the Puppy Mill Pipeline Act to ensure that animals across the state are protected, healthy, and free from mistreatment, and that abusive breeders are stopped.”
Both the OAG and the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) sent cease-and-desist letters to Puppy Boutique in January 2025 and June 2025, respectively. Puppy Boutique responded by claiming it was working with a newly formed nonprofit organization to adopt out dogs at its storefront. The Puppy Mill Pipeline Act authorizes pet stores to partner with animal shelters to showcase adoptable animals. However, according to the attorney general’s office, the nonprofit was not registered with AGM and sourced dogs directly from breeders, including known puppy mills, in violation of the law.
In March 2025, the OAG conducted an undercover investigation by calling the phone numbers listed on a webpage advertisement associated with Puppy Boutique. The investigator inquired about purchasing a Maltese puppy, and a Puppy Boutique representative confirmed that puppies were available for purchase and provided pricing information. Following the phone call, the representative sent the undercover investigator a series of text messages that included photographs of puppies available for purchase, a link to an Instagram page featuring other dogs, pricing information and store hours during which the investigator could visit the puppies for sale. The representative also told the investigator the puppy “can be taken home the same day as you come down.”
The co-sponsors of the Puppy Mill Pipeline Act, Deputy Senate Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Queens), and Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan), praised James for enforcing the legislation and pursuing “bad actors” who violate the law despite the harm it causes animals and pet owners.
“Her actions today continue to send a strong message that this law is taken seriously and violators will be held accountable,” Gianaris said.
Rosenthal said any reputable business should be aware that the legislation has been in effect for more than a year.
“The law expressly forbids the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in retail pet stores, but apparently that was not an obstacle for Puppy Boutique. Sourcing dogs from cruel puppy mills and fleecing unsuspecting consumers to the tune of thousands of dollars per animal will not be tolerated in New York state,” Rosenthal stated.
The case is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Deborah Diamant of the Brooklyn Regional Office under the supervision of Assistant Attorney General in Charge Michael Barbosa, with support from Investigator Lorenzo Hernandez. The Brooklyn Regional Office is part of the Division of Regional Affairs, led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Jill Faber and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
