A puppy mill is described as a type of dog factory where the animals are all kept confined in deplorable, unsanitary looking wire crates stacked on top of one another. They are kept for reproducing purposes and profits. Puppies are frequently taken away from their mothers way too young and sold to pet shops on Craigslist and other online sources. The dogs are often ill and never get veterinary care. San Francisco has a new ordinance banning pet shops from selling dogs that come from puppy mills.
San Francisco voted against non-rescue dogs and cats in pet shops
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors all voted unanimously to amend the health code of the city. Under the new proposal, only the sale of dogs and cats from shelters and animal rescue groups will be allowed at pet stores while banning them from selling any puppies under eight weeks of age. The hope is that such an ordinance will spread all across California, nationwide and worldwide. Officials do believe that the new law will not affect licensed breeders. It is however meant to put an end to the inhumane and cruel practices of large-scale dog breeding operations like puppy mills from supplying animals to pet stores and directly online to consumers.
Fear is the USDA removal of animal records will affect new rule
The San Francisco District 4 supervisor, Katy Lang, along with the U. S. Humane Society and other local animal care agencies state that the new ordinance will serve as a restrictive measure to prevent the irresponsible mass production of puppies and kittens as if they are in an assembly.
Lang fears that the removal of records as proposed by the USDA could affect the cruelty involved in puppy mills. At the recent board meeting discussing the new rules and ordinance, Lang stated “I was shocked to find out that recently the USDA removed information documenting cruelty cases, including information about these puppy and kitten mills, from their website.
We implore the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make this information available publicly once again.” Animal care and control are in full support of the new rule as many of them work closely with local pet stores.
