Kamis, 10 April 2014

Puppy Mill Sales Targeted in Cook County


Puppy mills are awful places. We're a country which stands for humane treatment of animals....But if you landed here from outer space and fell on a puppy mill, you'd certainly have another impression all together. For decades the U.S. Department of Agriculture for various reasons hasn't been able to significantly reduce the number of puppy mills. What has reduced the number of puppy mills is public awareness....but thousands of animals are still purchased at pet stores. Nearly all the dogs, cats and rabbits purchased from pet stores (I'm not referring to pet stores that pair with shelters and rescues to adopt) are from unreliable sources, who obviously have no interest regarding who buys their animals.


Chicago recently banned the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits sold at pet stores, called The Companion Animal and Consumer Protection ordinance. That ordinance, initiated by Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza, goes into affect next year. Now Cook County has done the same.


The concern was some pet stores would re-locate from the city to nearby suburbs - now, that can not happen, as Cook County now has banned the sale of dog, cats or rabbits at pet stores. (Communities who have 'home rule' can make their own decisions - however, none so far, are expected over-rule the new County law.)


The Chicago ordinance, Cook County law and similar legislation around the country do support the adoptions of animals from legitimate not-for-profits, such as shelters or rescues. The hope is to not only do these laws prevent sales of animals from awful sources, but simultaneously will increase pet adoptions in communities. Not only is this the right thing - there's also a savings of tax payer dollars since it does cost money to euthanize animals.


The suburban ban, approved without opposition Wednesday by the County Board, will go into effect in October, five months before the similar ordinance takes effect in the city.


The Cook County ban, proposed by Commissioner John Fritchey would affect at least 13 pet stores in the suburbs, but still accounts for many animals when you do the math. According to veterinarians, many of the animals that are sold at pet stores are obviously ill in the first place, become ill nearly immediately after purchase, or have a congenital illness which shows up later. There is a 'lemon law' in Illinois, but families have fallen in love with that little pup, it's not hardly like buying a washing machine that you're happy to return and get the money back. Animals may legally be referred to as property but they are not objects.


Yet, despite this the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association mysteriously remains against the idea.


What's clear is that the general public (including nearly all veterinarians I know) are overwhelmingly for this - even non pet owners.


Communities all over the country have enacted similar bans. Are there are enough cities to actually force the closure of puppy mills? Perhaps there are, or will be over time. Will the puppy mills only then seek to go online and reach people in other ways? No one knows, I suspect they may try - they have already. But there are increasing limitations on selling animals online. And with the passing of laws like the Chicago and Cook County bans comes public and awareness, which educates potential pet owners about where to and where not get pets.


In the Chicago area, the movement was begun and continues to be sparked by the The Puppy Mill Project . There's little doubt that other communities around the country will follow the example of Chicago, Cook County and other cities.


Mike Bober, vice president for government affairs of the Washington, D.C.-based Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) that represents breeders, pet store and pet suppliers, recommended that pet stores be able to sell animals from federally licensed breeders without a record of violations that directly affect the well-being of animals. The problem with this suggestion is that it means nothing....since many puppy mills are rarely inspected, and standards are set so low.


It is way too little too late from PIJAC. Perhaps they can come up with really viable idea, if so, that's another matter. However, for decades puppy mills and commercial facilities continued to sell to pet stores virtually unchecked. And while many stores do the best they can to care for the dogs, cats and rabbits in their care, some seem unwilling or unable to do so. Animals (and with them families who have purchased them) have suffered the consequence for so many years. The industry has been given the opportunity to police itself and has absolutely failed. So, ordinary citizens and public officials - who all agree humane treatment of animals is simply the right thing to support - have come together to do what the animals can't do.


More about why it's a good idea to ban pet stores from selling dogs, cats and rabbits.


Read my colleague Kathy Mordini's most recent piece on the ban


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Filed under: animal shelters, cats, dogs, pet adoption, pet store, pets, veterinary health


Tags: ban on selling dogs cats rabbits, Cari Myers, Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey, John Fritchey, pet store sales, pet stores, Puppy Mill Project, puppy mills, Steve Dale, Steve Dale archives, Susana Mendoza


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