For the longest time, rescue groups, shelter volunteers, and animal lovers everywhere have hoped the day would come when pet stores would sell shelter pups exclusively, as a way to cut the profit from “puppy mills”.
Last week a federal judge in Phoenix, Arizona upheld a city law requiring that all dogs sold in pet stores come from shelters.
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Phoenix is one of about 60 cities in the U.S. that have similar laws designed to put an end to puppy mills by driving potential pet buyers toward homeless animals and reputable breeders.
An estimated 23,000 dogs are sold in Phoenix area pet stores every year, and shelter dogs can spend months or even years waiting for adoption.
Laws like the one in Phoenix are believed to cut that wait time and end overcrowding in animal shelters.
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“We have so many dogs in Arizona that need homes, we don’t need to import them,” Phoenix City Councilwoman Thelda Williams, who helped champion the ordinance, told the Arizona Republic.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, The Pets Plus Natural pet store chain announced that, after being approached by the Humane Society of the United States’ Stop Puppy Mills Campaign, they will be converting all of their stores by December of this year.
The chain’s store in Bensalem, Pennsylvania converted and hosted a grand reopening on August 8.
(READ more at the Phoenix Business Journal) – Photo: pocketwiley, CC
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84 cities in US & Canada. 76 cities in the US and 8 in Canada have the full ban + 3 jurisdictions with very strong restrictions = 87. + the two most populous provinces in Australia (New South Wales/Sydney and Victoria/Melbourne) = 89 + the entire country of Spain (can’t buy a dog or a cat there) = 90. See http://puppymillfreereno.com/map for links to jurisdiction ordinances.
This should be the law everywhere!
Such good news! My city banned the sale of dogs at puppy mill outlets and now only allows adoptions at pet stores from rescue groups and shelters. Don’t breed or buy while shelter pets die.
I won’t even look at a rescue from a formal rescue anymore since they alter when they are just small babies and the research coming out is telling us that the dangers from alter often outweigh any dangers the vet tells us altering is preventing- ESPECIALLY alter before 2 years old. I will continue until rescues see how they are damaging dogs and make a change for the better. In fact it is being found out that the reasons the vets (and others) tell us is the reasons to alter are mostly without basis and wrong. It’s all over the internet…just do a search for the dangers of spay and neuter and give yourself several hours of time. I can do without the extra vet bills from all the problems of early altering…thanks.
If you see a dog in need somewhere absolutely DO step up and don’t wait for rescue. They can make awesome pets and you have control over making sure the best is done for them. I’m absolutely an advocate of that.
I am glad! I like to see that the states are handling it individually and correctly through the right process. Hopefully it will happen everywhere so that all those little pets can have homes(: although I am not against real breeders, my dad used to be one. He bred Dachshunds. Loved them to pieces! He also was a dog trainer. He told me he had a lot of people bring in rescue dogs (they were always the ones that ended up aggressive from being abused). He said it was hard to work with them sometimes and that some would not stop their habits. The only reason I mention that, is because of how I said I am not against breeders. Sometimes you need a new puppy to train it right for a specific task when a rescue animal won’t work. But first, always check to adopt! That should be your first and most important option! But if necessary, there is absolutely nothing wrong with going to a good breeder like I did. I got hell from a bunch of people who only believe in rescuing dogs for buying my little pit bull from a nice family who had puppies to sell. Which is wrong. You don’t treat people like that. If it wasn’t for my little girl, I would probably be dead. So, I am VERY grateful for private breeders as well. I would have never gotten the service dog I needed when I needed one, if I couldn’t buy a dog, and I would not be here without her. So Claire, don’t say “don’t breed”. Some people can’t use rescue dogs and need to train puppies for a specific task.
Holly Mullins, there are tons of puppies available at the shelter & through rescue groups. Especially in the spring.
And if a person needs a dog a particular size…like 30 inches or over or under a certian limit? What if they need a dog with particular traits at adulthood? What if you need to be as sure as possible on health issues? My good friend had to retire her rescue service dog she just graduated from training- turns out he is developing horrible hip dysplasia at a rapid rate- without surgery he may not make it another year and even with surgery he can’t be worked.. Over a year of intense training down the tubes (not to mention the emotional impact) and what if you are unable to keep any more dogs..think of that situation? There are a tons of reasons one might want to get a well bred purebred.
If you want a purebred and are a responsible owner especially if you have specific work in mind- GET ONE! from a reputable breeder. Your home, your life, your choice.
If you’ve never tried to find a shelter dog appropriate for the work…you can’t speak with any authority on how easy and successful it is or is not. But again we’re talking dogs for REAL service work, not the pets half the people try to pass off as service dogs but are only pets. A good majority of those that have done it will tell you to get a well bred purebred from a reputable breeder if you can manage to afford it at all.
Where can I find a list of the 76 cities in the US that have the ban?
While this is good news indeed, as far as Arizona goes (I live here), this is just the first step. This ordinance only affects one store, Puppies n Luv at PV Mall. There are stores in Tempe, Peoria and Gilbert that can continue to sell mill dogs. Interested parties who want to take this to the next level should contact the office of Kate Brophy McGee, she is a champion for all things animal related.