Banning pet stores! Interesting story on MSNBC

It's clear by your comments and participation in BlogPaws' Be the Change for Pets movement that responsible people do not purchase dogs from a pet store. There is too big of a chance that the puppy bought in a pet store came from a puppy mill.

Well, in West Hollywood, California, they are taking matters a step further. A big step further - they recently approved an "ordinance" prohibiting sales of dogs and cats in retail stores. According to this news article at MSNBC, Aluquerque, NM and South Lake Tahoe, Calif, has also banned this pracitce. Other cities around the country are considering similar types of legislation, the article says.

The article quotes Stephanie Shain, senior director of the Humane Society of the United States' puppy mills campaign, "Every time we do a pet store investigation [after a complaint], we find that puppy mills are the suppliers."

I first discovered this story on the Doodlekisses site all about Labradoodles & Goldendoodles - a great forum for fabulous pics, stories, and videos about these fantastic dogs. I could sit here all day and watch the rolling pics.

On the Doodlekisses forum page, people are chatting about this development, some pointing out that there are legitimate pet stores who do not use puppy mills (although, there is controversy there - many people just feel any pet store is a bad idea). And, also, that even if this ban were in effect across the country, it would not stop some people from breeding and selling out of their  homes, which can be as bad as using a puppy mill.

Back at the MSNBC article, they state that, "Arecent poll by the Associated Press-Petside.com found that more than half of those surveyed planned to get their next cat or dog from a shelter, seven times the number who said they'd buy from a pet store. And four in 10 said they thought pet stores could have hidden physical or psychological problems due to overbreeding or other issues."

What do you think? Banning the sale of dogs and cats in retails stores: good idea or bad idea? Would you support it in your hometown?

Comments

[Jessica]

Great Idea!

[Glenn Massie]

If you are set on buying a puppy please download and read, “How To Buy A Puppy” before you consider parting with your money. It is free at www.howtobuyapuppy.net

Buying a puppy without problems is harder than most people think. Finding a responsible and knowledgeable breeder is very difficult.
www.howtobuyapuppy.net

[Marg]

I think it is a great idea to ban selling puppies or dogs in retail stores. Why can't everyone check the shelters first to see if there is a dog that they would want. A Shelter dog is just as good as if not better than a full blooded dog. If there is something special you want to do with a full blooded dog, then do a lot of research and find a breeder.

[Pets awarness]

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