This Week in Animal Protection
News and headlines for the week of May 24, 2021
Laws banning the pet store sale of commercially-bred dogs work. “Nebraska Department of Agriculture records show that half of the state’s commercial dog and cat breeders have left the business” because of them. And that is good news as puppy mills engage in systematic neglect and abuse of animals, leaving severe emotional and physical scars on the victims.
A newly passed Arizona law prohibits someone convicted of cruelty to animals from owning, possessing, or having contact with an animal. “‘[S]ensational’ reports of pets being returned in large numbers are ‘completely untrue.’” Austin Animal Center recently implemented a rescue policy that silences dissent and threatens to kill animals despite rescuers willing to save them. A new study finds that homeless people with animal companions are “being refused access to services” and that this results in perpetuating homelessness. “An Aurora (IL) City Council committee has backed a new ordinance banning sales of animals at pet stores that come from [commercial] breeders.” And a legal representative whose law firm represents pet stores and slaughterhouses claims laws that ban the pet store sales of commercially-bred dogs “have done nothing to improve the lives of dogs.” My rebuttal explains why she’s wrong.
These are some of the stories making headlines this week in animal protection:
A newly passed Arizona law prohibits someone convicted of cruelty to animals from owning, possessing, or having contact with an animal for “at least five years” if convicted of a misdemeanor, “at least ten years” if a felony, and for life if convicted for a second or subsequent felony offense.
“‘[S]ensational’ reports of pets being returned in large numbers are ‘completely untrue.’” Intakes for dogs and cats are down over pre-pandemic levels.
Austin Animal Center recently implemented a rescue policy that silences dissent and threatens to kill animals despite rescuers willing to save them. It is not only pernicious, it is illegal. The No Kill Advocacy Center has asked the Austin Animal Welfare Commission to hold hearings on the matter.
The No Kill Advocacy Center also asked the Mayor and City Council to order the policy rescinded.
A new study finds that homeless people with animal companions are “being refused access to services, frequently on account of their desire not to relinquish their pet.” In some cases, this results in perpetuating homelessness since “many owners choose to remain in vulnerable housing situations rather than part with their animal.”
“An Aurora (IL) City Council committee has backed a new ordinance banning sales of animals at pet stores that come from [commercial] breeders.” If passed, it will join roughly 400 cities and four states nationwide which have done the same.
And finally, a legal representative whose law firm represents pet stores and slaughterhouses argues against the passage of laws that ban the retail sale of commercially-bred dogs in pet stores. She claims the laws “have done nothing to improve the lives of dogs bred and sold by substandard dog breeders.” She’s wrong. Enacting such a ban serves three purposes:
Encouraging people to adopt/rescue;
Educating the community about dog (as well as cat and rabbit) abuse in mills; and,
Stopping that abuse.
And they work. My rebuttal is here.