February 19, 2020 is the date the Dog Amendment (Stop Puppy Farming) Bill 2020 (Bill 162) was introduced and had 1st and 2nd readings. By March 10, Gov. Kim Beazley recommended to Parliament that appropriations for the bill be made.
Don’t know at this time if there will be lengthy discussion in Parliament before their third and final reading, or if on track to sail through. When passed, the next step to become law is the eager governor’s signature.
The bill covers 4 areas of news laws concerning dogs:
mandatory dog de-sexing;
dog breeder registration;
a centralised dog registration system to track dogs; and
the transition of pet shops into adoption centres.
“The Bill proposes to transition pet shops that currently sell puppies or dogs sourced from unregulated breeders into adoption centres that work in partnership with rescues to find safe and loving homes for homeless dogs.”
“The adoption centres can offer dogs for adoption that have been rescued from pounds or saved by government approved rescue organisations who are permitted to partner with them.”
We’ll keep you posted, but the fifth statewide puppy mill store ban is just around the corner!
Back in May of 2017, Hillsborough County said “no more” to puppy stores, but grandfathered the three puppy stores in. Which in our eyes is no ban, of course.
But the puppy mill paradigm reared its ugly head last September when 300 puppy mill dogs had to be rescued in Hillsborough County in deplorable condition.
Who let the dogs out? Hillsborough County says puppy mill rescues now ready for adoption
More than 300 dogs were rescued in mid-September from terrible conditions inside a Valrico puppy mill. They will be put up for adoption in a few weeks.
These are four of the puppies rescued from a puppy mill in Valrico as they wait to be checked by veterinary staff at the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center. More than 300 small-breed dogs were rescued in September and will soon be put up for adoption. [MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times]
Just like Reno’s errant puppy store’s Grand Jury indictment got Reno to entertain a ban in earnest once again, so to the terrible ways of the puppy mills and the stores that sell them (all retail stores, as you should know by now) always seem to inflame animal rights and consumer protection activists to get bans passed in their cities, counties, states and even entires countries.
We track jurisdictions that have passed strong restrictions rather than full bans because we believe their inherent flaws will eventually lead to full bans being passed. This is a great example of why jurisdictions should just pass a full ban, no grandfathering and be done with the whole hot mess.
Dog and cat retailers banned in Hillsborough, commission rules
The change prohibits all commercial cat and dog sales in the county, which could force Hillsborough’s three remaining pet shops out of business.
Just weeks after puppy store Puppy World opened in Olympia Washington, activist and veterinarian council member Lisa Parshley led the charge at the city council which passed a ban unanimously in a first reading on 2/11/20.
Council Member and Veterinarian Lisa Parshley
Puppy World is part of a small, but clearly interested in expanding, franchise called PuppyLand which operates in Puyallup, WA; Olympia, WA (but only until amortization expires next September); and Meridian, Idaho.
This passage brings the count to 7 bans in Washington.
One wonders if activists in neighboring Oregon just don’t care…. They are the only state on the west coast to not have a single ban anywhere in the state.
To be fair, the state legislature entertained a state-wide ban in the 2018 session, but without a single town or city making a statement, it’s hard to get states to sign on.
Jurisdictions with puppy stores in them when bans were passed has now increased to 72. Two in a row now with the fantastic news from Naperville, Illinois, whose ban passed 1/2020 after 6 years of fighting to get it done.
To call it a ban, or not to call it a ban, that is the question which doesn’t have a simple answer.
No new stores can open in Palm Beach County. It’s a ban!
Any city in Palm Beach County can opt out. It’s not a ban!
All 8 puppy stores in the county can continue operating ad infinitum. Definitely not a ban!
Not only that, they can relocate their business if they want. Hardly a ban!
Not only that, they can SELL THEIR BUSINESS IF THEY WANT. What kind of a ban is that?
Stores are under some strong restrictions, but you all know the drill: really hard to implement. In 2017 one of the stores (contemporary article says they are down to 7 stores) had to go before a judge for a cleanliness violation. $200 fine. That’s it.
This isn’t even a ban with strong restrictions, this is a ban of new stores, but the old ones can keep right on selling the offspring of tortured, sickly, feral, malnourished, uncared for, unsocialized, dogs who are serving life sentences in a rotting jailhouses for the crime of having been born a dog.
So we’re going to put Palm Beach County, Florida’s ordinance in its own category: Old Stores Welcome, New Stores Not.
Bottom line: someone could buy a store, move its location and still be welcome in Palm Beach County with arms wide open until the end of time.
Mamaroneck, New York, made history in February 2016 when the town council passed the first ban on the retail sales of dogs and cats in the state of New York:
The usual pushback was attendant with the ban with one council member frightened of litigation from stores or even from the state which made it difficult for local jurisdictions to ban stores in 2000.
A 2000 state law that created the state licensing and inspection program for pet dealers prohibited municipal oversight of pet stores and home-based breeders. The state Agriculture and Markets Department had few inspectors and in the past five years levied penalties only in about 50 of 800 failed pet dealer inspections, [senior state director of ASPCA government relations for the Northeast, Bill] Ketzer said. “Local governments were kind of growing increasingly frustrated with their inability to protect themselves locally.”
The previous law didn’t cover wholesale pet sales from large-scale breeding facilities, also known as puppy mills, which is as important if not more so than regulating local pet stores, Ketzer said.
But the rest of the council was having none of it, with the mayor stating,
When you’re a responsible elected official, you can’t be intimidated by what could happen. You can’t govern scared. I have full confidence that this law will stand any appeal.
Later that year, New York Attorney General’s Office sent a letter to the state’s municipalities and county governments urging them to pass pet dealer/puppy mill regulations within their jurisdictions. Article.
Just one month later, in March 2016, Mount Pleasant, New York, passed a ban.
But recently, the Mount Pleasant town council wanted to amend their law by removing shelter and rescue language.
The ordinance when passed in 2016 read:
§ 84-1 Prohibition on sale of commercially bred dogs and cats in pet stores.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell any live dog or cat in any pet store, retail business or other commercial establishment located in the Town of Mount Pleasant, unless the dog or cat was obtained from an animal shelter or a humane society located in the County of Westchester, or a nonprofit rescue and humane organization registered with the New York State Department of Agriculture.
B. For purposes of this section, a rescue and humane organization is defined as a New York State nonprofit corporation that is exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(3), participates in early age spay/neuter of animals, complies with state and local laws regarding the humane treatment of animals, and whose mission and practice is, in whole or in significant part, the rescue and placement of dogs and/or cats.
§ 84-1 Prohibition on sale of commercially bred dogs and cats in pet stores.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell any live dog or cat in any pet store, retail business or other commercial establishment located in the Town of Mount Pleasant.
We’ve long been skeptical of a ban in Fountain, Colorado.
It was easy to believe the small town of 25k simply hadn’t updated their online municipal code which doesn’t mention the ordinance, though it was believed to have passed in 9/2011. One wonders how law and order is implemented if there is no code against which to prove an infraction.
There is a 2011 article mentioning the passage in passing, and an unsigned copy of an ordinance online at a non-governmental site.
But the most telling tell-tale: there has been at least one store in Fountain, Colorado, Valley Pets, which has been operating uninterrupted for 37 years to date, according to their YP and BBB pages.
Valley pups might have recently closed. Their Facebook page hasn’t been updated since August 19, 2019. Their phone number is still active, but in 10 calls placed to (719) 390-4583, we only ever got a “mailbox full” recording.
Most recent post on Valley Pets FB page from 8/19/2019.
Nonetheless, it appears to have operated unhindered for the 8 years since the ban purportedly was passed.
And there’s this Denver Post article.
Berthoud first in Colorado to ban sale of puppy mill dogs
Presumably the journalists at the state’s largest newspaper did their journalistic duty and got the answer from Fountain when we could not. Article
Doesn’t sound to us that the ordinance made it through the 2nd reading. We’ve tried calling the Fountain Colorado Municipal Clerk and have left a dozen messages over the years, none being returned. Like we said, small town of 25,000….
This deletion modified our Bans By Year chart which looked like this before the change:
At a time where there are healthy and loving pets waiting to be adopted from animal shelters statewide, there is simply no reason to allow the sale of puppy mill animals. Puppy mill animals are mistreated from birth, and often develop behavioral or physical health problems later in life despite their high price tags. This bill would encourage the adoption of dogs, cats and rabbits and ensure that animals no longer have to face the cruelty, physical and psychological abuse to which the puppy mill supply chain subjects animals.
Prohibits retail pet store from selling or offering to sell dog other than dog acquired from animal shelter, humane society, dog control district or nonprofit corporation that provides rescue services.
This bill prohibits a pet store from selling dogs and cats beginning on January 1, 2020. A person who violates this prohibition is subject to a civil forfeiture of up to $10,000 for the first offense and up to $25,000 for the second or any subsequent offense.
Maine was the first state to pass a ban on sale of dogs and cats through their legislature, but controversial governor LePage refused to sign the bill. It’s now in the hands of new governor Mills, but it’s not clear if she will sign.
Gov. Janet Mills should sign L.D. 1311. It will effectively impact puppy mills by shrinking the marketplace and drive Maine’s pet market towards more humane sources.
A person may not advertise for sale, sell or exchange for value more than one cat or dog under the age of 6 months in a 12-month period unless that person has a valid animal shelter, kennel, or breeding kennel or pet shop license or a valid vendor’s license issued under this section.
Legislators and the Gubernatorial mansion ally against puppy mills.
“I’m honored to be partnering with First Gentleman Reis to shed light on the abhorrent conditions at puppy mills,” said Rep. Duran, D-Wheat Ridge.“Every dog deserves to live in happiness and safety. Our furry friends demand very little in exchange for unconditional love and attention, and I look forward to taking action to address the inhumane treatment of animals in our state.”
First Gentleman Reis and Representative Duran are exploring legislative proposals to ensure the health and safety of dogs and cats.
On Puppy Mill Awareness Day, Rep. Duran & First Gentleman Reis Draw Attention to the Need to Protect Our Canine Friends. Article.
But after a recent exposé of sick and dying puppies at a store that has had puppy deaths not long after sales dating back to 2002, legislation ending puppy and kitten sales in Colorado now seems to be on a fast track.
Pet Store Ban? Talks Underway After More Than A Decade Of Complaints About Sick Puppies
Others
NEVADA
Other states bringing up the issue so far include Nevada. State Legislature there meets only every two years. Next legislative session, February 2021.
A Bill Draft will be submitted to end the sales of dogs, cats, rabbits in retail stores in the state of Nevada by Senator Julia Ratti.
ARIZONA
Arizona doesn’t have a state ban in the pipe, but there is a provision to end the statewide prohibition of local bans, which would allow the two bands in Phoenix and Tempe, which are still written into their municipal code, to become immediately enforceable. Tucson, Arizona, was on the eve of passing a local ban when the state law took effect. Ending the state prohibition of local bans would see passage of the Tucson ban occur soon thereafter.
…Includes a repeal of the prohibition of local retail store bans. Phoenix and Tempe city ordinances are still on the books, made unenforceable by state law. If 2329 passes with repeal intact, Phoenix and Tempe will not only enforce, but Tucson has been holding a city ordinance in the ready for when they will be able to enforce it.
The Deep South of the state of California has been trying to rid itself of multiple store owner David Salinas for six years.
San Diego was the first to throw one of his stores out in 2013.
Then Encinitas and San Marcos in 2015.
Then Oceanside and Carlsbad in 2016.
Solana Beach, Vista and Del Mar passed preventive ordinances to make sure he didn’t come there.
Then the great state of California passed a comprehensive ban of retail sales of dogs, cats and rabbits in October 2017, effective 1/1/19.
But he’s still at it.
Activists have had enough.
National City still has 2 puppy stores open and doing the business of passing on the progeny of tortured, malnourished, sickly, spirit-broken dogs onto unknowing customers for a substantial premium.
Salinas is not going easily into that good night. He surely doesn’t want to let go of his easy money stream so he is hanging on with all his might to the last torn threads surrounding the state’s language loopholes.
But activists are there to virtually tar and feather him every step of the way.
Thank you southern California activists, for leading the way on fighting these stores to the bitter end and showing the rest of the country the steps they might have to take when their states pass a comprehensive retail animal sales ban.
Kitsap County is the first of 5 total bans that includes a retail store. The County’s proximity to Seattle could prod the slow poke into action.
On 7/22/2020, the first ban in Washington that had a store in its jurisdiction will be in effect in Kitsap County. The store owners of 43 years are upset and cite that their puppies sell for $1200. So they must be good? To those that buy a pup for that price when you can get an awesome dog at a shelter for from $25-100, we say:
There’s a Sucker Born Every Minute.
Unknown [wasn’t P.T. Barnum]
This is Washington’s 5th ban including a rabbit sales ban in Gig Harbor. But the significance of a ban with a store, and a very long time one at that, could someday influence slow poke Seattle just across Puget Sound from all 5 current ban jurisdictions.
Kitsap County not far from Seattle in King County Washington.
One has to wonder why the store owners are crying foul. How many dogs do you think they might sell on average per week? Think 5 is reasonable? With as many as 25 per week at Christmas, we’ll call 5 a lowball.
5 x 1200 x 52 x 43 = $13,416,000. Let’s call the lowball estimate vs. the expenses a wash, making this figure pure profit.
Isn’t $13 million enough for a lifetime? Or is this proof positive yet again that store owners and the puppy dealers that transport the dogs from the mills to the stores are drowning in their own filthy greed?
