In other business, the Council considered a revised version of a proposed ordinance regulating carports. The Council expects to vote on the ordinance at Tuesday's regular meeting, after a public hearing in which nearly 30 people have registered to speak. Pet City has been in Colorado Springs for 52 years. It doesn't make sense to stop doing that and rely solely on rescues and shelters where we don't know the background of the animals." KRDO "We buy our puppies from reputable breeders. "There are responsible breeders and there are irresponsible breeders," she said. "We think this ordinance is too strict."īree Maestas, owner of the Pet City at Citadel Mall, said that both stores recently passed unannounced state inspections. "We've been trying to work with the City Council to get back to where we were 18 months ago, for more transparency and reasonable restrictions for the pet stores," said Dustin Haworth, owner of Pet City at Chapel Hills Mall.
On Monday, Pet City owners again denied the accusations and said that the ordinance would put their stores out of business. Those critics have linked Pet City to four mills or questionable breeders in Kansas, Indiana and Wisconsin. One local pet store, Pet City - with branches at the city's two shopping malls - has been accused by animal rights activists and concerned citizens of selling pets from mills they are the city's only retail stores that sell pets. Such mills are known for inhumane treatment of animals and living conditions that promote an infection that can be transmitted to humans. However, the Colorado Legislature passed a law that took effect in September, requiring more transparency from pet stores about where they obtain their animals - but Stand said that it doesn't go far enough. The proposed ordinance requires stores to display that their animals come from legitimate sources and have documentation to prove it.ĭuring a Council discussion on the matter in late February, Strand said that an ordinance is necessary because many pet stores across the country sell dogs and cats that are acquired from puppy and kitten mills, and state and federal laws don't provide enough prevention or enforcement. The city is getting closer to enacting an ordinance banning the sale of dogs and cats at pet stores, and a possible $500 fine for violators.ĭuring a City Council work session Monday, president Tom Strand present the proposed ordinance that would prohibit such sales unless pets come from shelters, rescues, licensed breeders and other legitimate animal organizations. KRDO NewsChannel 13 has a crew attending the hearing and will provide updates. The owners said that the pets they currently obtain are from licensed breeders more reliable than getting animals from legitimate shelters and rescues, as the ordinance would require. "All-or-nothing ordinances such as this, will do nothing to affect the animal welfare in Colorado Springs. "We shouldn't be controlled by special interest groups that are not willing to work with us," said Dustin Haworth, owner of Pet City in Citadel Mall. Pet City has the only two retail pet stores in town, and the owners have repeatedly denied getting animals from irreputable providers. "We'll support you, Pet City, to support the transition to a humane business model that does no harm - seen or unseen," Archer said. The first two speakers were Amy Jesse of the Animal Humane Society - who helped write the ordinance - and animal rights activist Julia Archer.īoth support the ordinance, saying that many pet stores acquire their animals from puppy or kitten mills where they are inhumanely treated. It was standing room only for the hearing, with more than 75 people packed into the Council chamber extra chairs were brought in just beforehand. Many of the supporters of the ordinance wore red shirts with the slogan "Vote Yes For Puppies." KRDOĬouncil members expect to discuss the ordinance and vote on it late in the evening.
Tuesday and 41 people were registered to speak in both sides of the issue. The City Council is in its third hour of a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to ban the sale of dogs and cats at local pet stores KRDO
0 kommentar(er)
