Currently, thousands of dogs live in inhumane conditions in puppy mills across the United States. Commercial pet sales occur in almost every state, depriving dogs of a minimal quality of life and treating females as breeding machines. Irresponsible pet stores are often affiliated with large breeders who do not meet AKC or National Club standards, resulting in puppies being treated as mere products sold in pet stores across the country.
But thanks to local animal welfare groups and activists, a growing number of American cities are joining the list of places that ban the sale of pets in grocery stores. There’s good news out of Texas these days! The Dallas City Council recently passed a resolution banning the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores.
Dallas has been added to the list of over 400 US cities.
The puppies in us look sad
The list of cities banning commercial pet sales grows every day, along with Dallas! To date, more than 400 cities in the United States have banned the sale of pets in pet stores, citing inhumane living conditions for the animals. According to the Dallas Humane Pet Store ordinance, this decision has several advantages. First, this decision will prevent hundreds of puppies from being transported to the city each year from dangerous puppy mills. In addition, consumers are protected from misleading sales and will no longer accept sick or unexamined puppies. The law also provides more support for animal services working to protect stray animals. This decision will significantly reduce the stigma against rescue dogs. Therefore, it can be easier to find forever homes for cats and dogs in many non-profit shelters.
The act will go into effect in November, which gives enough time for local pet stores selling cats and dogs as pets to adapt and transform their businesses.
California Became The First State To Do So
According to the San Francisco SPCA, California became the first U.S. state to ban the sale of dogs, rabbits, and cats that come from commercial breeders.
The decision was signed in 2017 by Governor Brown, and it also includes the encouragement of partnership with local rescues that promote the adoption of homeless animals.
This was quite a revolutionary movement for the United States, as it started the snowballing process of banning the commercial sale of pets all over the country.
With California ahead, other localities, including Maryland, New York, Illinois, and others in over 30 states have done the same.
According to the ASPCA, this movement is important for ending puppy mill cruelty, as dogs that live under those conditions are denied access to vet care, proper dieting, fresh air, regular baths, and even protection from the cold.
Inhumane Breeding Facilities All Over The U.S.
Even though shutting down the pipeline is in the process, there are still numerous puppy mills that breed puppies in inhumane conditions.
Petland, the biggest pet store chain in the U.S., sells puppies that come from unreliable breeders, deceiving their customers and providing them with puppies that initially come with certain health issues, according to the Humane Society of the United States.
Canines bred in such facilities are faced with horrible conditions, including lack of vet support, inconsistent and poor dieting, lack of socialization and proper puppy education, unsanitary conditions and filthy cages, etc.
Supporting Animal Welfare Groups
None of this would even be possible without the initiative taken by local animal lovers!
People who voluntarily work in shelters, rescues, and other animal welfare groups are the main reason why the decision to ban the commercial sale of puppies was made in the first place.
It took a lot of dedication, research, and constant work to prove that puppies bought from pet stores indeed live in horrible conditions, and that they’re the victims of profit-oriented business conducted by people who don’t care about their well-being whatsoever.
We can’t neglect the volunteer work of hundreds of veterinarians either. Vets who decided to work pro-bono in the interest of promoting shelter dogs over commercially-sold pets at pet stores are true heroes who deserve an honorary mention.
The ban will also help thousands of animal facilities find homes for their dogs, helping them get what they truly deserve. Nothing can even remotely compare to seeing a shelter dog transform into a beautiful family pet in a new home. And, isn’t that what we all want?
