The pet trade is a major source of animal welfare problems globally. Improving regulation at retail, import, and breeding stages would significantly reduce suffering across the supply chain.
Pet trade regulation is fragmented across international trade law, national import controls, domestic breeding regulations, and retail standards, creating gaps that allow welfare-compromising practices to persist. Puppy and kitten mills supply pet stores and online markets with animals bred in poor conditions and often carrying heritable health problems. Wild-caught exotic pets enter trade despite CITES protections through fraudulent captive-breeding certificates. Online platforms have become major vectors for unregulated pet sales. Comprehensive regulation would require: verifiable captive-breeding status for all wildlife; breeding facility welfare inspection; bans on third-party sales requiring buyer-breeder contact; and platform liability for illegal animal sales. Progress is happening but fragmented across jurisdictions.