The Los Angeles City Council voted 13-2 Wednesday to ban pet stores from selling dogs, cats and rabbits purchased from commercial breeders.
People can still purchase pets directly from breeders, just not in stores, which will be able to obtain non-breeder stock from the city's animal shelters or humane societies registered with the city's Department of Animal Services.
City Councilmen Bill Rosendahl and Mitchell Englander cast the dissenting votes.
City Councilman Paul Koretz introduced the measure earlier this year with the intention of shutting down puppy and kitten mills and reducing the tens of thousands of euthanizations performed on unclaimed animals each year. The city euthanized more than 21,000 dogs, cats and rabbits in each of the last two fiscal years—about 37 percent of the animals impounded.
In a Patch poll, 63 percent of voters approved of the ban while 30 percent disapproved, saying rescue pets need a home but there shouldn't a ban against buying animals from commercial breeders in pet stores.
Pet shops and other retailers will have six months before the law goes into effect. The penalty for violating the ban will start at $250 for a first offense and goes up to $1,000 for a third strike.
Companion Animal Protection Society West Coast Director Carole Raphaelle Davis said the law would help end "the blood money contracts between puppy mill owners who abuse animals and L.A. pet retailers."
"We are relieved that finally, the cries of L.A.'s shelter animals have been heard. Puppy mills and cruel pet factories will fade into history at last," Davis said.
The city is in shambles but this is where his priority is. Must be nice to be so oblivious.
That is the problem with liberals, they always have good intentions, but their laws typically have the opposite effect. This law will just reduce the free choice that LA citizens have to choose a pet (no puppies anymore), and put pet stores in LA out of business. It won't stop the euthanasia of pets at shelters, as very few people are going to buy an adult pitbull that has been abandoned.
I hope you take the survey and stay in touch to help solve this real and terrible social problem.
Breeder - Depends on the reputation of the breeder. Please check first. Pet Shops - Hell no! They are notorious for buying from puppy and kitty mills.
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Sometimes we need laws when we can't control ourselves and this time we needed a law because we cannot control ourselves. I'm over the moon that this law has been passed.