Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/dallas-bans-dog-cat-sale-in-pet-stores/

The Dallas City Council voted unanimously to ban the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores. The new ordinance will hopefully end puppy mills and encourage people to visit their local shelter and adopt.

The “Dallas Humane Pet Store Ordinance” was introduced by animal welfare organizations in December of 2020 “to close the puppy mill pipeline to Dallas”.

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Photo: Unsplash/Ben Michel

Several pet stores in the area are already working with local rescues to help shelter dogs and cats find loving homes. The SPCA of Texas, The Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN), Operation Kindness, and animal lovers around the country are thrilled that the ordinance has passed.

“This Ordinance will support dozens of local humane pet stores in Dallas that do not sell puppies but rather adopt puppies who desperately need loving families,” said Karen Froehlich, President & CEO of SPCA of Texas in a press release. “Our shelter alone has over 1,000 animals in our care today, and shelters across Texas are transporting thousands of adoptable dogs to other states due to overcapacity. The time is right for Dallas to pass this Humane Pet Store Ordinance – both for animals and our community.”

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Photo: Unsplash/ Angela Handfest

Dallas joins a growing list of cities, including nine others in Texas, that have prohibited the sale of dogs and cats at pet stores.

The Humane Society of the United States claims there are an estimated 10,000 puppy mills currently active in the U.S. and over 2 million puppies sold each year come from puppy mills.

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Photo: Unsplash/Andrew S

“We’re proud to see that the City of Dallas is once again putting the interests of dogs and cats first,” stated Ed Jamison, CEO of Operation Kindness. “As Operation Kindness works with more than 70 shelter partners across the region, we know that shelters are full of wonderful animals that need homes. We hope this ordinance will help the community consider adoption as their first choice when bringing a pet into their family.”

Adopt don’t shop!

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog