Pet shops

[valanhb]

Originally posted by jcat
Why aren't there more controls? The major problem is unchecked reproduction, so why aren't our legislators doing something about it? If they can make laws regarding who can enter the country, and imprison kids under 16 on suspicion of terrorism (or give them the death penalty), why can't they enact some laws protecting animals? Should we bombard our Congressmen or Congresswomen demanding some action?

The answer is too simple....because cats and dogs don't vote, and most people are apathetic and blissfully ignorant about the pet overpopulation problem, therefore won't campaign for changes in legislation. Most states now have decent (felony provisions) laws regarding animal cruelty because of the truly heartwrenching stories that have been on the news/in the papers and have upset enough people that the legislators cared. Until the overpopulation problem isn't hushed up, and people can put faces with the millions killed every year in shelters, and the millions of ferals in the US alone, people don't think about it. They don't want to think about it - it's too sad! But like the abuse issue, until the people pressure the legislators enough, or until the legislators themselves see what the problem really is (and it's fiscal as well as in lives for the states...), there won't be stricter laws.

So, essentially, YES we should bombard our local officials to change things!!!

(Yup, very strong feelings on this....I've been doing a lot of research for www.straypetadvocacy.org about the No-Kill Movement, and successful low-cost spay/neuter programs, and the most successful of those programs have state legislature backing them, funding them, and the euthanasia rates in shelters have dramatically reduced because of the low income spay/neuter initiatives....)

 

[charmsdad]

In the US pet shops are required to have a USDA license to sell dogs or cats and are very limited in the sources from which they can obtain animals (also requiring USDA licenses.) Rodents, reptiles, etc. do not require such permits and are only regulated by state and local laws. The USDA license is not required for a private breeder that is not selling to or through a pet shop. Of course, not all pet shops follow these laws and not all areas enforce these laws to the same extent.

A number of areas will allow pet shops to provide space or act on the behalf of "rescue" organizations. (Petsmart does this in many of their stores.) This does not require the same type of Federal permit.

My questions is: What controls do you want to limit reproduction? High licenses and fee rates have been demonstrated to do little more than penalize the reputable breeders and drive the others underground. The high fees then associated with the animals from the reputable breeders increases the tendency of people to go to an underground breeder since the prices would now be much lower.

George