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Another Ordinance Makes it Illegal to Sell Commercially-bred Dogs and Cats in Pet Stores

From Nathan Winograd
November 2022

The owner of a local pet store claims the new ordinance will put him out of business, but many pet stores are thriving by partnering with rescue groups and shelters. How? Whenever anyone adopts an animal, a life is saved, and the store benefits by having the new pet owner buy their supplies right then and there. PetSmart, Petco, and other pet stores have been doing it for years.

shelter Dog

New Braunfels, TX, has passed an ordinance making it illegal to sell commercially-bred dogs and cats in pet stores. Pet stores that want to offer animals for adoption can partner with shelters and rescue groups.

The new law, which takes effect in one year, serves three purposes:

  1. Encouraging people to adopt/rescue;
  2. Educating the community about dog and cat (and rabbit) abuse in mills;
  3. Stopping that abuse.

These laws work. “Nebraska Department of Agriculture records show that half of the state’s commercial dog and cat breeders have left the business,” thanks to these laws.

Pet stores generally get their animals from Commercial Breeding Enterprises (CBEs), commonly known as ‘puppy mills.’ And CBEs engage in systematic neglect and abuse of animals, leaving severe emotional and physical scars on the victims. As a result, one in four former breeding dogs has significant health problems and is more likely to suffer from aggression. Many are psychologically and emotionally shut down, compulsively staring at nothing. 

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