Posted: Aug. 16, 2012, 6:25 p.m. EDT
The Los Angeles City Council’s Personnel and Animal Welfare Committee will consider whether to move forward with a proposed ordinance that would make it “unlawful for any person to sell any live dog, cat or rabbit in any pet store, retail business or other commercial establishment.”
An exemption would be made for dogs, cats and rabbits obtained from an animal shelter or a humane society as well as any nonprofit rescue or humane organization registered with the city’s department of animal services.
The committee is set to consider the measure Aug. 21, 2012. If the ordinance is passed, the full city council may vote to adopt the measure as early as next week.
Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and subject to escalating fines starting at $250 for a first violation.
The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC), in an alert released today, urged members to contact city council members to lobby against the pet sales ban.
PIJAC issued the following talking points:
• The law should focus on closing down bad operators, not all operators.
• Limiting people’s right to get a pet only hurts animals as well as the pet-owning public.
• Putting legitimate pet stores out of business opens the door to underground markets.
• Research demonstrates that pet store puppies are on average at least as healthy as those from any other source.
• The vast majority of pet owners choosing a pet store animal are very happy with their pet.
PIJAC recently published an online Legislative Action Kit retailers can use to raise awareness about the ordinance among consumers.
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