Hartford  (AP) — Animal protection activists have set their first Connecticut Voices for Animals Day to lobby state lawmakers to ban puppy mills.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals scheduled lobbying efforts on Friday at the Capitol in Hartford. Advocates want an end to the sale of dogs bred in so-called puppy mills.

Mike Bober, a spokesman for the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, said advocates often consider the sale of animals as evidence of inhumane treatment. He says the group unsuccessfully lobbied for more state money to be spent on animal control.

A proposed ban on pet shops selling cats or dogs unless they were from an animal shelter or rescue organization failed last year. The General Assembly instead established a task force that will soon submit recommendations.