Will Canadians start banning pet stores too?

LA has done it, now a city in British Columbia contemplates banning the sale of purposely bred animals as well.  Of course pet store owners are against the ban, spouting the well rehearsed retorts that the public will instead turn to unscrupulous internet sellers for their puppies.  We also find it very interesting that the owner of Pet Habitat says that he only buys puppies from USDA licenced facilities here in the US!  He obviously doesn’t know the reputation of USDA licensed commercial breeders.

Read the full article below or in the BC Local News.

You won’t hear the question “how much is that doggie in the window?” in Richmond if the city implements a bylaw banning the sale of dogs in pet stores.

Bylaw proponents believe a ban would limit impulse purchases and help reduce the number of dogs bred in inhumane conditions without proper health care.

The proposed bylaw would affect three local stores: Pet Habitat, PJ’s Pets and Pets Wonderland.

Pet stores hide behind puppy brokers, who source puppies from multiple breeders, a cruelty investigator for the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals told city council Tuesday.

“Good, reputable breeders don’t sell to pet stores because this would prevent them from choosing the appropriate homes for their puppies,” said Marcie Moriarty.

At a general purposes committee meeting Tuesday, city council referred the issue back to staff for more information.

Ernest Ang, owner of Richmond Centre’s Pet Habitat, said his store only buys puppies from facilities certified by the United States Department of Agriculture, and noted his store complies with standards of care set out by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, the Humane Society and the B.C. SPCA.

He said a ban on pet sales would have an adverse effect.

“Puppy sales will now be driven to unregulated backyard breeders.”

He noted a 2008 Ipsos Reid study that showed only 10 per cent of dogs owned by Canadians came from pet stores. The rest come from other sources.

“When the city isolates only three stores it creates an issue of unjust competition and discrimination.”

City staff found dog sales generated 15 to 70 per cent of pet stores’ gross revenue.

Christie Lagally, a volunteer with the Richmond Animal Protection Society, supports the ban and provided council with surrender forms for dogs purchased from Richmond pet stores.

“We have an inordinate number of dogs that are getting purchased at pet stores here in Richmond and are quickly being surrendered or abandoned to the Richmond Animal Shelter.”

Speaking against was Gary Batt of Petland in Surrey. He said the bylaw would be counterproductive.

“The sale of puppies will increase on the Internet and in newspapers and on street corners and parking lots.”

He said people who buy from pet stores are well informed and he rarely sees impulse buying. He added that the ban will not stop the inhumane treatment of dogs.

“Puppy mills can only be eliminated or reduced by the licensing, formulating regulations and inspection of the source of the problem, namely the breeders themselves.”

Council was not convinced that banning the retail sale of dogs would do away with unscrupulous breeders and puppy mills.

“We need to ask the provincial government to start working at setting some standards,” said Coun. Evelina Halsey-Brandt. “What’s happening in individual homes we have absolutely no control over over.”

Coun. Ken Johnston took issue with the sourcing of the animals.

“I really think we need to try to snuff out the source which is the people who abuse animals by running puppy mills.”