Pet Stores, Puppy Mills, and USDA licensed breeders

Jun 02, 2010

Tonight there will be a special AAC meeting to discuss amendments to the pet trader ordinance and a proposal to ban the retail sales of pets.

Based on the last AAC meeting, it sounds like the proposal will ban the sales of puppy and kitten mill pets.  AAC member, David Lundstedt, has proposed an ordinance based on a similar ordinance recently passed in West Hollywood.

With very little exception,  all puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills.  Pet stores say that they only purchase pets from USDA approved breeders, but humane organizations have been saying for years that the USDA license is meaningless.  (You can learn more about puppy mills and the USDA licensing from the Humane Society of the US and Best Friends.)

Last month, the USDA proved the welfare organizations to be right.  Their Office of Inspector General released a report about the gross problems with the inspections and regulations of commercial breeders.

See video about their report.

Tonight's meeting will be held at 6pm at the Austin Energy Building, 721 Barton Springs Road, first floor assembly room.