Posted: Thursday, December 4, 2008, 5:34 p.m., EST

Bernalillo County, New Mexico, could ban the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores at its Dec. 9 board-of-county-commissioners meeting, when the commissioners will consider an animal-control ordinance.

Although the proposed ordinance does not currently ban cat and dog sales, the ban could be added as a floor amendment prior to the consideration of the proposed ordinance.

The proposed animal-control ordinance sets forth adequate food and space requirements, among other things, for pet shops, groomers, kennels, breeder sites and shelters.

The commissioners first broached a potential ban, which would also include a ban on sales of cats and dogs coming from “puppy mills” or “kitten mills,” at their meeting last month.

The ordinance defines “pet shops” as “any premises, or part thereof, open to the public which engages in the purchase, sale, exchange or hire of animals of any type, except the term shall not apply to premises used exclusively for the sale of livestock. No definition is provided for “puppy or kitten mills.”

Animal Control Director Becky Darrow said the county has received many calls and emails in response to the recommended bans, both for and against it. She said if the commissioners want to present the amendments again, they can do so at the Dec. 9 meeting when the animal-control ordinance is up for adoption.

The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) has issued an alert urging those who oppose the amendments to attend the board of commissioners meeting next week.

PIJAC said there is a high probability such restrictions could spread to neighboring counties. The city of Albuquerque, which is located in Bernalillo County, already has in place an ordinance banning the sale of pet-shop cats and dogs.

The council recommended citizens consider that pet-store puppies tend to receive veterinary care more frequently then puppies from other sources. It cited a study conducted by Cornell University that found no other source produces healthier puppies than pet stores.

PIJAC also said commercial suppliers of puppies for pet stores are generally required to be licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture, which has strict standards for maintaining breeding facilities.

PIJAC warned that people wanting to buy puppies will turn to other sources that are not regulated and may offer less healthy dogs, such as backyard breeders.

It also said that evidence shows pet stores are not a significant source for dogs that end up in animal shelters and pounds.

The board of commissioners meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. at One Civic Plaza NW, Albuquerque, NM.

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