Rabu, 10 Juli 2013

San Diego bans retail sales of dogs, cats


— The sale of dogs, cats and rabbits will soon be banned at retail stores in San Diego, making it the 32nd city in North America to enact legislation in response to criticism of how animals are treated in commercial breeding facilities.


The City Council unanimously approved the prohibition Tuesday after more than two hours of emotional testimony from the animal-rights activists who supported the ban and the pet shop owners and employees who opposed it. San Diego joins Los Angeles and Chula Vista in passing a ban.


The commercial facilities -- also referred to as puppy mills and catteries -- have been targeted by activists for alleged inhumane treatment of pets. Shop owners say those critics are painting all large breeding centers with a broad brush because of a few bad apples.


Gary Weitzman, president and chief executive of the San Diego Humane Society, said the goal of the pet store ordinance is to discourage the transport of animals from commercial facilities and encourage the adoption of homeless animals from local shelters and rescue organization.


'The primary reason that we think this ordinance should pass is to prove that San Diego is indeed America's pet-friendliest city, a designation we should all be proud to have had in the past and we want to have going forward,' Weitzman said.


There are only two pet stores in San Diego -- San Diego Puppy and Pet Market -- that would be affected by the new ordinance. San Diego Puppy in Grantville has been the focus of much local criticism because it sells puppies bred at Hunte Corp., the world's largest professional pet distributor.


David Salinas, owner of San Diego Puppy, said he takes great pride in taking care of his animals and defended Hunte's practices. 'They do everything right,' he said.


Salinas added, 'Anybody that will tell you that I don't care about puppies or where they come from and it's strictly about money is completely false ... Anybody that's successful in this industry is going to be attacked. We know this is a David versus Goliath-type thing. It's a heartfelt thing. We understand that. But we love animals.'


Under the ordinance, no pet store can display, sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away or otherwise transfer or dispose of companion animals in the city. Existing pet stores would have to stop such activity within six months. Those stores would still be able to offer adoptions of dogs, cats and rabbits in partnership with a shelter or rescue group akin to what Petco currently does.


There are exceptions for people who breed and rear animals on their own premises as well as for publicly operated shelters and nonprofit rescue organizations.


Violating the ordinance would be a misdemeanor with a $250 fine for the first offense, $500 for the second and $1,000 for the third and subsequent violations.


Councilwoman Lorie Zapf, who pushed for the ordinance, called it a passionate debate that showed San Diegans care about animals. She said she's heard too many horror stories about the health problems associated with dogs raised in puppy mills.


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