California: Don't Let Pet Stores Support Puppy Mills
- by: Alicia Graef
- recipient: California General Assembly, Assembly Appropriations Committee
Thousands of companion animals are killed in California shelters every year, while commercial breeders continue to mass produce more and more to meet the demand for puppies and kittens. It's a vicious cycle that pet stores are supporting, but the state could soon end that.
The Pet Rescue and Adoption Act (AB 485), which was recently introduced by Assemblyman Patrick O'Donnell, would ban pet stores in California from selling dogs, cats or rabbits, unless they were obtained from a shelter or rescue group.
Ultimately, supporters hope this legislation will help crack down on the notorious puppy and kitten mills operating in the U.S. by closing a huge market for the animals they produce. Not only will this help save the lives of animals in need of homes and reduce the demand for more from breeders, it will help protect consumers, and relieve taxpayers– who are spending a quarter of a billion dollars annually to house and kill animals in local shelters every year.
More than 30 cities in California have already passed similar restrictions, and both small and large stores across the U.S. that have adopted this type of humane business model have proven it can be successful.
Now it's time to take it statewide. While there is widespread support for passing this bill, it's unfortunately also getting opposition from individuals, pet store owners and animal-related organizations that don't want to see it pass.
Please sign and share this petition asking lawmakers to pass this critical piece of legislation to protect companion animals.
As someone who is concerned with animal welfare, I was thrilled to learn that California is considering legislation that could save the lives of thousands of companion animals by banning pet store sales of dogs, cats and rabbits.
California taxpayers are currently spending a quarter of a billion dollars to house and kill animals in local shelters every year, while commercial breeders across the country continue to mass produce more for a profit.
While there are laws related to the care and treatment of companion animals sold in pet stores, there are no restrictions on where stores can obtain animals from and they are a major outlet for animals coming from these large-scale operations, which have otherwise become known as puppy and kitten mills.
The Pet Rescue and Adoption Act (AB 485), which was introduced by Assemblyman Patrick O'Donnell (D-Long Beach), would address these problems by banning pet stores in California from selling dogs, cats or rabbits, unless they were obtained from a shelter or rescue group.
While many continue to defend pet store sales of dogs and cats, claiming that they only come from breeders who are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the standards that have to be met for licensing are the bare minimum and are clearly not in line with the level of humane care that breeders should be providing, or that consumers believe is being provided – as multiple inspections and investigations have continued to prove.
Already, more than 30 cities in California have already passed similar restrictions, and both small and large stores across the U.S. that have adopted this type of humane business model have proven it can be successful.
It's time to take these measures statewide. I sincerely hope you will take a stand on behalf of companion animals and support this legislation, which will help protect dogs, cats, rabbits and consumers by banning the retail sale of animals from commercial breeders.
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