As many of us know, being a pet owner comes with numerous benefits, such as companionship, emotional support, opportunities for physical activity, and enhanced social connections. While some individuals choose to rescue their pets from shelters, others buy animals from pet stores, often at inflated prices.

To attract buyers, retailers utilize a controversial practice called "pet leasing." This arrangement allows people to acquire a pet through a lease agreement rather than a direct purchase. However, these agreements can involve exorbitant interest rates and hidden fees, leading to total costs that exceed initial expectations. In some cases, if a customer can’t keep up with payments, they face the devastating possibility of having their beloved pet repossessed.

In response to this, I plan to re-introduce legislation that would prohibit "pet leasing" in Pennsylvania. This bill will safeguard individuals from financial exploitation, as well as spare them the heart-wrenching stress and trauma of losing a beloved pet due to unmet payment obligations.

Please consider cosponsoring this legislation to protect Pennsylvania pet owners from this deceptive practice. 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1173: P.L.784, No.225