L.A. becomes largest city in nation to ban pet store sales of commercially bred dogs
The Los Angeles City Council tentatively approved an ordinance Wednesday that will make it the largest city in the nation to ban pet shops from selling dogs obtained from commercial breeders.
The council voted 12-2 in favor of the ordinance, the Los Angeles Times reports.
People can still buy dogs directly from breeders, but pet stores will be limited to selling animals obtained from shelters, humane societies and rescue groups.
The law is aimed at curbing puppy mills and preventing tens of thousands of animals from being euthanized in city shelters each year.
Stores that violate the restrictions could face penalties starting at $250.
Similar ordinances are in effect in at least three other California cities — Irvine, Hermosa Beach and West Hollywood.
Pet shop owners called the law unfair.
“It’s just making us suffer,” said Candice Ro, owner of Olympic Pet Shop in Koreatown.
Councilman Paul Koretz, a longtime supporter of animal rights, championed the ban and said lawmakers have a duty to stick up for animals who “cannot speak for themselves.”
City officials said the ban, which returns to the council for a final vote next week, could affect two dozen pet stores. The restrictions will be reviewed after three years to determine if they should be continued.
Posted by jwoestendiek October 26th, 2012 under Muttsblog, videos.
Tags: animals, ban, breeders, city council, commercial breeders, dog, dogs, law, los angeles, ordinance, pet, pets, prohibits, puppies, puppy mills, rescue, sales, shelter, shops, store
Comments
Comment from Dan white
Time October 29, 2012 at 8:25 am
This is totally unfair….I been selling puppies for 25 years. Are dogs don’t go to the dog shelters. The dogs in the dog shelter are all big dogs large dogs not small little dogs. Tekken needs pet stores that are selling puppies to think that the animal shelters will have left dogs or fewer dogs in them is absolutely wrong…. Animal shelter by our house just brought in 100 puppies from Down in Alabama so they cant say that the puppies are coming from pet stores it’s just wrong… the laws are to easy to change.. thus is a bad bad law I feel so bad for the pet stores. And the customers I won’t be able to purchase puppies anymore… wait and see the affect this will have.. pet stores will close then vets will close and so on.. then the shelter will do like they do here just bring dogs in from another state… bad bad law…
Comment from Barb
Time October 29, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Get over it. This is great news. These dogs come from the worst breeding conditions possible. I hope more cities pass laws like this.
Research Hunte Corp. That should open some eyes.
Comment from Alex Mason
Time October 29, 2012 at 9:07 pm
Stating that shelters only have big dogs, and not small ones, is the most asinine thing I’ve ever heard. Visit any large shelter and you will see dogs of every shape and size — including purebreds. Pets are not an impulse purchase. There are some reputable breeders out there, but I’ve never met a one that would sell to a pet store, because they’ve no way of knowing what would happen to their pups. Due to the amount of dogs a pet store needs and the fact that they’ll sale to anyone with the money, it is virtually impossible for them to source their dogs from anywhere other than puppy mills.
Comment from robert schlosser
Time October 27, 2012 at 5:31 pm
At least it’s a start- now keep going nationally with more laws.