Animals Only Sold To Shelter

 

LEAH CEDULLA Staff Writer

 

At the start of the year, the state of California issued a law prohibiting pet stores from selling pets that are not from shelters. This law is the first of its kind in the United States. Although sudden, this law was enforced to ensure the safety and health of dogs, cats and rabbits. Its purpose originated from controversial breeding facilities such as puppy mills.

These places often “house animals in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions without adequate food, water, socialization or veterinary care,” according to California’s Assembly Bill No. 485.

Now, the protection of potential pets has been reinforced through a new set of rules. Old rules were minimal and only required owners to clean cages once a week and have cages that were only six inches larger than the animal kept in the cage. Pet store owners who break the new rules will have to pay a fine of $500 per animal. To ensure the success of this law, the government vowed to provide $250 million a year for housing animals in shelters. Not all California officials agree with this new policy. Some concern has been placed on its possible negative effects.

“People argue that a pet sale ban is going to be the magic bullet,” Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council president Mike Bober said.

Bober believes there are alternatives to supporting animals and animal lovers without having to put businesses at risk.