From the mind of Tomcat...

I don't know where this idea started, but it is one that is gaining in popularity across the US and it is one that worries me to death!

The San Francisco Commision of Animal Control and Welfare is considering an ordinance to make it illegal to sell any pets (other than fish) in the city. Other cities, like West Hollywood, CA, have already banned the sale of dogs and cats.

I know that the "reason" for this is to save "millions of pets relinquished to shelters" every year and stop the endless cycle of euthanasias that happens. But, once again, an emotional over-reaction is going to lead to a lot of unintended consequences.

First, as the article points out, the majority of pets in shelters are not from pet stores or even breeders. I haven't found the research article yet, but I will post a link as soon as I do. One article from the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy that I reviewed showed that less than 30% of dogs and 6% of cats in shelters were purebred. In my mind (and yes, I may be showing some of my confirmational bias), this reinforces my belief that most pets relinquished to shelters don't come from pet stores or from breeders. So, if these facts are true...why attack the pet stores?

Second, I understand the desire to defeat "puppy mills", but how do hamsters, gerbils, mice, birds, etc, factor into this? By removing all pets from pet stores, aren't we making it MORE difficult for people to own pets? What about all the research that shows the HUGE benefits of pet ownership to children, families, adults and seniors? What's the real agenda here?

I have said this before and will probably need to say it on my deathbed, but these knee jerk reactions to a real or perceived problem with animals is not the way to resolve the issue. Banning the sale of pets through pet stores not only hurts the individual pet store owners and employees, it severely hinders those people who are looking for a specific type of pet. It also puts those people at the mercy of unscrupulous individuals (like those who sell pets sight unseen on the Internet). Moreover, and maybe this is my biggest concern, it plays into the hands of the animal rights movements whose agendas preclude anyone owning pets!

7/14/10: UPDATE: El Paso is now considering banning the sales of dogs and cats in pet stores.

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