L.A. Bans Sale of Pets from Commercial Breeders (article) by Mr. Ed on AuthorsDen

I Truly Hope That Many More Cities Will Now Follow Their Lead

Los Angeles has now made history by becoming the largest city in the U.S. to ban the sale of specific species of animals that come from commercial breeders. This means that pet stores in L.A. can no longer sell dogs, cats, or rabbits that are not from a pet rescue organization or from an animal shelter.

This ban is designed to stop pet shops from obtaining their animals from Puppy Mills, as well as to help find new homes for the thousands of pets that are currently homeless in the city.

Elizabeth Oreck, working for The Best Friends Animal Society, led this legislative effort. About the animals that will no longer be allowed to be sold in L.A., Oreck said: “They’re inbred; they’re overbred; they’re irresponsibly bred.”

If you aren’t familiar with America’s atrocious Puppy Mills, imagine a place from hell where dogs are bred over and over again to produce purebred dogs that can be sold for thousands of dollars. To maximize profits, the puppies they breed are kept in tiny wire cages and completely neglected before they are shipped across the country to pet stores. And the unfortunate dogs used as ‘breeder bitches and studs’ live their entire lives in sheer misery.

All of these Puppy Mills place profit above animal welfare. And the puppies born in them are the lucky ones. The mothers who are impregnated over and over again truly suffer the most. And when they can no longer breed, they are killed or tossed out like garbage.

Obviously, not everyone is happy about this ban. Local pet store owners, many who still deny that they get their dogs from Puppy Mills, think it’s very unfair.

But those of us who see so many unwanted dogs and cats now being euthanized each and every day in America’s shelters, and those of us who now rescue thousands of starving abandoned pets on the streets of America today believe that it’s extremely fair. Why breed more and more pets in this country when there are so many of them out there that need homes today?

If a pet store in L.A. is now caught selling animals from a commercial breeder, they will be fined a first-time penalty of $250, and may face misdemeanor charges.

All we animal advocates hope that they will now choose to sell or to help adopt out homeless pets instead. There is certainly no shortage of them in America today. And we truly hope that many more municipalities in this vast nation of ours will now follow suit.

Reviewed by Mark Lichterman

Reviewed on October 29, 2012

As a dog lover living in the LA area, I do sincerely appreciate and applaud this ban. However, I do believe that there are a number of pet shops that do purchase their -- for want of a better word -- merchandise from reputable animal breeders that quite possibly may be put out of business due to this ban, along with, I might add, reputable pet stores that do purchase only from reputable breeders. Also, a goodly number of people may want a pedigree dog, cat or rabbit. I for one have had four pedigree Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. This was my choice and this was what I wanted. Of course I did buy from local home breeders. My wife has had only rescue dogs that, believe me, are loved no less than my/our pedigree dogs. I do believe that reputable pet stores should be allowed to sell dogs, cats and rabbits so long as they can show proof of where purchased.

Mark Lichterman

Reviewed by Annabel Sheila

Good on ya Los Angeles!!!!! I pray everyone adopts this method of responsible humanity!

Anna

Reviewed by John Domino

Reviewed on October 28, 2012

Praise God! Something LA got right! Yes, as California goes so does the rest of the USA! Yea!

Reviewed by D. Vegas (Reader)

Good for LA...California usually is the starter state and other
states follow suit. Great news Ed!

Deborah

Reviewed by Tom poesyco.th@gmail.com

AMEN ED ...

Reviewed by JASMIN HORST SEILER

MY dear friend thank you for the happy Sunday morning news, usually where LA goes others will follow, sooner or later, bless ya!

Reviewed by John Martin

Puppy mills gotta go. I got my dog from Dessin Animal shelter. It was like adopting a child. It took two weeks. My wife and I were interviewed..and they actually called the three references we had to provided...and ya know what, Ed...that's a good thing.