Pet stores across Long Island could be banned from selling dogs, cats and rabbits if Gov. Kathy Hochul signs the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill into law.

The bill has already passed the state Legislature.

If signed into law, it could put an end to animals being shipped to some New York pet retailers from out-of-state mills.

"The breeding dogs are horribly abused and bred every six months," says Libby Post, executive director of the New York state Animal Protection Federation.

Pet store owners say the law would put them out of business because of a few bad people in the industry.

News 12 reached out to more than a dozen pet store owners on Long Island, but none wanted to speak on camera, fearing protests and death threats from animal rights groups.

People United to Protect Pet Integrity or PUPPI, a coalition representing pet store owners, is calling on Hochul to veto the bill.

"It's going to force 80 small businesses to close, and it's going to put 2,000 people out of a job," says Emilio Ortiz, of PUPPI. "It's going to make it even harder for people to get a dog. It doesn't correct the direct issue that they're trying to solve."

If the governor does sign the bill into law, pet stores would need to adopt pets from rescue groups and animal shelters.

The state Animal Protection Federation says if the bill becomes law, it will push for the closure of online pet sales and puppy mills in New York.