L.a. City Council Votes To Ban Sales Of Puppy Mills Pets Instores.

[LizT]

After a 12-2 vote Wednesday by the Los Angleles City Council, LA is poised to become the largest US city to ban the sale of commercially bred pets. Because the vote to ban the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits purchased by pet stores from commercial breeders was not unanimous, a second vote on the ordinance will be held next week. That vote will only need a simple majority to confirm the Council’s decision on the ban.

The proposed ban is meant to diminish the market for puppy and kitten mill pets and, at the same time, encourage shops to carry adoptable pets from shelters. Under the proposed law, pet stores will be able to obtain animals from the city’s animal shelters or from humane societies registered with the city’s Department of Animal Services. Individuals will be allowed to purchase pets directly from breeders.The penalty for a first time violation of the ban would be $250, with the fine going up to $1,000 for a third strike. Some pet shop owners are vocally opposed to the ban.

The proposed city ordinance is sponsored by City Councilman Paul Koretz, a friend to animals who includes a message to adopt and a link to the city’s Department of Animal Services at his official webpage. The two no votes yesterday came from Councilmen Mitchell Englander and Bill Rosendahl. Englander said the ordinance will be costly to enforce and bad for business and the local economy. Englander withdrew support when Koretz declined to remove rabbits from the list of pets affected by the ban.

Let's hope this gets a ball rolling.

Edited October 25, 2012 by LizT

[BlackJaq]

Yay where is the "Like" button?!

[LizT]

Yes. This would make a huge impact in a big city with lots of rich and influencial people, particularly if they see a decrease in the numbers of impulse buying and more thought and care go into gettng a dog from either a Rescue or Registered Breeder.

[mantis]

WOOHOO, follow suit Australia. :cheer:

[Guest Labradork]

Edited because I had a re-think.

I don't have anything to say about it just now.

Edited October 26, 2012 by Labradork

[Steve]

Id like to see the fine print before I give it a tick.

[Sandra777]

Sounds like a foot in the door to banning all breeding to me.

Ban the sale of animals in pet shops bred by "commercial" breeders - what is "commercial".

How is it going to be policed? How are pet shops going to be made to prove they don't buy from "commercial" breeders? How are they going to tell a BYB pup from a "commercial" pup? Seems to me like a good way of encouraging internet sales for puppy farmers.

[BlackJaq]

It sounds to me as though they will be selling/adopting out shelter animals. So not buying any pups of any breeders? I could be wrong

ETA:

Individuals will be allowed to purchase pets directly from breeders.

What individuals? Individual pet shops or individual members of the public?

Edited October 26, 2012 by BlackJaq

[Steve]

What are the conditions the dogs from shelters will go into pet shops? What are the requirements when selling them etc ?

If they are going to stay in pet shops for extended periods until they are sold or sold without educating the potential owners or screening the owners there's no great stuff there. If dogs shouldnt be sold in pet shops then no dogs should be sold in pet shops and individuals can go to shelters to get their dogs just as well as they can go to a pet shop and just as well as individuals can go to a breeder .Id like a definition on commercial breeding or is it just allowing people to breed like mad as long as they dont sell to pet shops in that state?

[BlackJaq]

Well they need to make a start somewhere. I would like to see sales of ALL live animals i n pet shops banned. Probably even fish, mostly because of impulse buying.

Edited October 27, 2012 by BlackJaq

[LizT]

From what I have read previously about this proposal (I will try to find the link) the idea is to ban all live animals sold in Pet Shops for 3 YEARS. The Pet Shops are advised to work in conjunction with Shelters etc. to facilitate a better adoption situation for the city.

It is also stated that all those who wish to buy directly from breeders should do so. The emphasis being that people who want a puppy should put more thought into it and put their nanes down on a Breeders list and be prepared to wait if the need be, rather than just buying a cute puppy..becuase it is a cute puppy. The Councilors who first put forward the proposal have nothing against Registered Breeders (this includes "DD's" breeders)...only that buying a puppy whouldn't be an "impulse thing" but something that is looked into with thought and planning.

Can't see anything wrong with that myself.

[LizT]

Here's the orginal info I read.

City officials in Los Angeles will consider a proposed ordinance that would put a three-year ban on the sale of commercially bred dogs, cat and rabbits in pet stores this month. The main goal of the ordinance is to help with overcrowding in L.A. animal shelters and reduce the number of animals that those shelters have to euthanize.

Shelters in Lost Angeles took in more than 57,000 animals last year. Of the 35,405 dogs they took in 25 percent were euthanized. There isn’t an adoption deadline at city shelters, but limited space makes it difficult for animals to stay at the shelters long. Some animals are lucky to be at the shelter 30 days before they are put down.

Los Angeles wouldn’t be the first city to ban the sale of commercially bred pets, but a ban in Los Angeles could have a significant impact. “Because of the population of Los Angeles, and because of the important role Los Angeles plays culturally on the national stage, a ban would have reverberations nationally,” said Nick Nassuet, a special investigator for Last Chance for Animals based in Los Angeles.

Paul Koretz is the City Councilman behind the proposed ordinance and his ultimate goal is for the city of Los Angeles to have no-kill shelters. “That’s going to take a tremendous amount of work and many steps. This is just one step in that direction,” Koretz said. The ordinance would permit businesses to sell dogs, cats or rabbits but only if they are from an animal shelter or a nonprofit humane organization that is registered with the city’s Department of Animal Services.

Some pet industry representatives believe the ban will only hurt those who are already responsible pet stores. “Anybody that would engage in substandard breeding already doesn’t follow the rules,” said Michael Canning, president of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council based in Washington D.C. Canning fears the ban will cause people to resort to the internet or other unregulated venues to sell puppies. Canning also is concerned that there is no evidence that those who want a purebred pet will go to an animal shelter if they can’t get one from a pet store.

However, Shannon von Roemer, owner of a dog boutique in Los Angeles doesn’t see how humane breeders will be affected. “This isn’t about going to a reputable breeder and getting the dog of your choice, this is about trying to stop people who just want a pet from going to a pet shop and creating the demand for puppy mills, “ von Roemer said. “If people want a certain dog and really make the conscious effort of finding a reputable breeder, they deserve getting that dog. If it’s not about a particular breed and just about getting a cute puppy, there’s no reason not to adopt a rescue.” Councilman Koretz agrees that most people who shop at a pet store are looking for a cute dog, not trying to find a perfect purebred animal.

Koretz is confident that the ordinance will pass and it will lead to more adoptions at Los Angeles city shelters. If so Los Angeles example could lead to many other cities doing the same.

[LizT]

What are the conditions the dogs from shelters will go into pet shops? What are the requirements when selling them etc ?

If they are going to stay in pet shops for extended periods until they are sold or sold without educating the potential owners or screening the owners there's no great stuff there. If dogs shouldnt be sold in pet shops then no dogs should be sold in pet shops and individuals can go to shelters to get their dogs just as well as they can go to a pet shop and just as well as individuals can go to a breeder .Id like a definition on commercial breeding or is it just allowing people to breed like mad as long as they dont sell to pet shops in that state?

Steve, these are questions that can only be answered by looking at all the relevent documents. It's not going to get covered in a "Public Info release" statement is it?

And yes, of course people can breed "willy nilly" and the public can still buy from them...but having the public go direct to large scale breeders and seeing their facilities isn't really something most Puppy Mill type establishments want is it..and with good reason..if Joe Public went to get a puppy and saw 80+ dogs in crates, neglected and living in cramp squalid conditions it wouldn't be good for business would it! Of course they can still sell on-line..but this too is something that needs to be addressed...a can of worms indeed...but it has to start somewhere...what's the alternative..if we are not sure do nothing? I don't think so. A big city like L.A. is a great place to start, let's see what they learn over the next 3 years.

[alpha bet]

Just came back from Europe....surprise surprise..... they don't allow pet shops to sell dogs and cats...... no one seemed worried about it.... pet shops still operated as product suppliers....

Can't understand why our Australian government says you cant stop them selling pets as it impedes the commercial business. Hell we changed laws for the sale of booze, cigarettes, guns, knives, even toys get banned if they are considered unsafe.

Just change the law and ban sale of dogs and cats in pet shops, will at least stop the spur of the moment buyers.