California recently became the first state to ban the sale of commercially bred dogs in pet stores, but not everyone is optimistic about the change. The new law will come into effect in January 2019, and it states that instead of selling dogs and cats from breeders and puppy mills, pet stores will only be allowed to sell rescue animals. The purpose of the law is to give much-needed attention to the millions of homeless animals forced to live in shelters, and supporters also hope to cut off the last link in the supply chain that keeps puppy mills in business.
While most animal advocates are in favor of the ban, commercial breeders, the American Kennel Club, and, not surprisingly, pet industry businesses have voiced concerns. They say people looking for a specific kind of pet will have a harder time finding what they want. The majority of shelter dogs are mixed breeds, and those in opposition of the law say people want to know the characteristics of the dog they take home. Their argument is that faced with the extra hurdle of not being able to go to the pet store, people will turn to “underground” and illegal sources outside California.
While it seems absurd, a black market for puppies does exist. There’s no denying the fact that people will pay thousands of dollars for the honor of owning a certain breed, and where there’s profit, there’s people to exploit it. Instead of taking animals to pet stores, puppy mills might turn to other means to sell poorly treated, unhealthy animals to unsuspecting costumers.
There’s no definite answer to whether the new law in California will help or hurt the black market puppy trade, but many believe it’s still a step in the right direction. The law will not affect commercial breeders who sell directly to costumers. People looking for a specific breed will still be able to go to a reputable breeder to buy a puppy. At the same time, there are millions of rescue animals that, contrary to popular belief, don’t let their lack of a pedigree keep them from being loving family pets.
Those in favor of the bill want to push the point that a dog doesn’t need to be a purebred to have qualities families look for. They’re affectionate, loyal, trainable, and everything else their purebred cousins are. Rescue animals include dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments. Julie Bank from the Pasadena Humane Society told NPR that a quarter of the animals surrendered to her shelter are even purebred.
There’s still another year until California pet stores are required to conform to the new law. Some stores have already made the change, but others are expected to put up a fight. Animal advocates hope the law brings about positive change for the state’s pets and helps to bring awareness about the serious problem of puppy mills.
via Whisker Therapy