Success: County Bans Selling Commercially Bred Animals

Target: Salt Lake County Council Chair Richard Snelgrove

Goal: Applaud Salt Lake County for banning the sale of non-shelter animals.

The Salt Lake County Council has banned pet stores the sale of commercially bred dogs, cats, and rabbits thanks in part to petitions like ForceChange’s Stop Puppy Mills From Selling Inhumanely Bred Dogs. The ban currently applies only to areas in the unincorporated part of the county. Pet stores are also now encouraged to provide adoption services from legitimate shelters and rescues. Leaders in Salt Lake City will potentially consider passing a similar ban in December.

Many commercially bred animals come from puppy or kitten mills. Pets from these facilities are often kept in unsanitary conditions without access to vet care, food or water. The ban is a step to reduce the number of animals born in inhumane conditions. People who want a purebred animal can still go to a licensed breeder.

Almost 90 municipalities in the country have banned the sale of commercially bred animals, leading the way for a nation-wide ban. These bans are a way to help more shelter animals find homes. In a country where approximately 7.6 million dogs and cats enter shelters every year and 2.7 million of them are euthanized, this is a positive step.

Some pet store owners feel the bans place unnecessary burdens on their businesses. They claim that all animals are bred in poor conditions. A few pet stores have challenged the ban in places like Phoenix, AZ and Cook County, IL. Courts have overwhelmingly supported the bans in all cases.

Applaud this move towards promoting animal adoption of dogs, cats, and rabbits and reducing animal euthanasia.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Chairman Snelgrove,

I would like to thank you and the Salt Lake County Council for banning the sale of commercially bred dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores. This move will promote adoptions from animal shelters and rescue organizations and reduce the number of pets euthanized annually.

Almost 90 municipalities have enacted and enforced a similar ban and I see this trend spreading nationally. While public education is also important, banning commercially bred animals from sale will lead to the eradication of puppy and kitten mills where animals are treated so inhumanely. This is a positive first step toward improving the lives of animals.

Thank you for listening to your constituents and for doing your part to making the world a better place for companion animals. Please continue to lead the way to ease animal suffering and pain. I applaud you for taking a stand to protect animal welfare.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Africa Studio