Retailers who specialize in birds, reptiles, fish and pocket pets are facing a growing array of challenges — from sourcing constraints to supply restrictions and rising costs — that are reshaping access to pet ownership. The shifts aren’t theoretical. They’re arriving from multiple directions at once, and together they add up to something the industry needs to be aware of.
Start with sourcing. Across the country, pet sale bans are expanding beyond dogs and cats to target the specialized pet trade. In West Hollywood this past September, the City Council banned the retail sale of most companion animals. In Hawaii, lawmakers are again advancing legislation in 2026 that could ban commercial aquarium fishing entirely. For specialty retailers, this is more than a policy debate; it’s a direct hit to inventory.
The regulatory picture is layered. Species commonly kept as pets, including axolotls, have been discussed in federal regulatory contexts, such as the Lacey Act’s injurious species provisions, raising concerns about how future listings could affect interstate transport and availability. This creates further complexity for retailers and owners navigating overlapping federal, state and local rules.
The legal ground is shifting as well. A 2025 New York court ruling has begun to challenge the traditional legal treatment of pets as property in limited circumstances — expanding the definition of “immediate family” under the zone of danger doctrine to include dogs in certain cases.
If upheld or expanded, this precedent could greatly increase veterinarians’ liability, raise malpractice and personal pet insurance rates, increase care costs, and overall make pet care less accessible and affordable.
None of this is inevitable if we make our voices heard.
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This year in Arizona, a proposed rule would have banned ownership of three entire families of aquarium fish — including dozens of species that pose no invasive risk. We challenged it, testified on the science, and, as a result, the commission narrowed the restrictions to species with documented concerns.
Responsible, science-based regulation is possible, but it requires continuous advocacy from people who understand what’s at stake.
Underneath all of this is something more fundamental than policy. The human-animal bond is more complex than most policy debates acknowledge, and it lives in quieter places than legislation tends to reach: the senior who finds something to look forward to in a tank of fish, the children learning responsibility through raising a class pet, the professional who feels less alone because their parakeets depend on them. In a world where isolation is increasingly common and compassion is increasingly rare, that bond isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline.
That’s not something we can afford to legislate away. At Pet Advocacy Network, protecting the human-animal bond — across every species and in every community — isn’t just a policy priority. It’s why we show up every day, and it’s why this industry’s voice is vital.
Pet Advocacy Network monitors issues affecting the pet care community nationwide, but we need your help. Join us in advocating for responsible, science-based trade policies at PetAdvocacy.org. By getting involved now, you can help protect animals, businesses and consumer choice for the future.
