Many Canadians are justifiably outraged that pet stores and markets across the country continue to sell animals as pets. We, the undersigned, are equally concerned with this practice; and,

Pet stores and other markets involved in the business of selling animals contribute to an unregulated industry of puppy mills, commercial breeders and backyard breeders. Peer-reviewed studies conclude that such animals are typically produced by intensive breeding in substandard conditions. This results in their incurring a high number of communicable diseases (zoonosis), and adverse genetic and neurological symptoms, as well as behavioral issues; and,

Pet stores promote impulse buying, do not screen homes or educate buyers, and often house animals in environments non-conducive to their health. Consumers are denied the opportunity to approach the breeder(s); inspect their operations or premises; assess the pups’ or kittens’parents; access medical records (if any exist), or ask questions, thus consumers are not protected.

The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) Member Breeders’Code of Practice expressly and unequivocally forbids breeders to sell to pet stores. Section III (g) states: “No breeder shall sell or donate dogs for the purpose of their being auctioned, raffled or to pet stores”.

The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies notes that over the past decade, the puppy mill industry has increased in Canada. Puppy mills are increasingly registering their dogs with online registration bodies that are not recognized in Canada, such as the North American Purebred Dog Registry; further, registration does not guarantee a puppy’s health or quality; and,

Most puppies in Canadian and Ontario pet stores were imported from mills in the United States prior to 1995. But in that year, new legislation was enacted to regulate the import of puppies from the U.S. The new law required that puppies be micro-chipped, vaccinated and health-checked by a veterinarian. Because many U.S. shipments did not meet these standards, this measure was successful in reducing the number of puppy exports entering Canada. Unfortunately, the decrease in imported puppies from the U.S. has created a demand that is now met by an increase in Canadian mills.

In 2011, the City of Toronto unanimously passed a bylaw that bans the sale of animals in stores. Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker, who put forward the motion, stated that pet stores that sell animals are bad for pets and consumers. “They’re kept in small cages, they’re not socialized, they have immense health problems,”he said.“Consumers are getting ripped off.”The bylaw stipulates that stores cannot sell dogs or cats unless obtained from a municipal shelter, a humane society or registered rescue group. The bylaw also serves to reduce euthanasia by steering consumers to animals that have been health-checked and spayed/neutered. “It really slams the door closed on people who mass-produce animals for profit,”said Mr. De Baeremaeker.

The Cities of Mississauga and Vaughan have also recently placed the same restrictions on the sale of pets from pet stores, and many more Ontario municipalities, including others in Durham Region, are presently reviewing the same revisions to their bylaws; and,

The Humane Society of Durham Region (HSDR) has recently stated that: “we…support the ban of the sale of animals in pet stores, retail establishments, flea markets and online, unless they are from a municipal shelter, humane society or recognized community rescue organization.” The HSDR added: “By stopping the sale of pets in stores and through online agencies, it will both reduce the number of unaltered and potentially unhealthy animals entering the community and it will help the rescue organizations find homes for those animals already in shelters. It’s a win-win situation.”

Reputable pet stores, such as PetSmart and Pet Valu, have recognized the problem and opted to work with the community of Durham Region and the HSDR, by bringing rescued cats and dogs into their stores from local shelters to help re-home them, instead of being part of an otherwise harmful industry.

Thousands of unhealthy companion animals, sourced from mills, must be put down every year by their owners and municipal animal services. This creates a financial burden on the consumer, the municipality, and a great distress to pets and their owners. We believe that this is not only an animal welfare issue, but a consumer protection issue and a public health issue!