San Diego Says Sayonara to Puppy Mill Pet Sales

San Diego is now the second-largest city in the United States (behind Los Angeles) to ban the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits originating from puppy mills and other commercial breeding facilities. An ordinance passed the City Council in July with near-unanimous support, and went into effect in September, making it unlawful to display, sell or give away live dogs, cats or rabbits unless the animals are obtained from shelters, humane societies, animal control agencies, or rescues.

Over the past three years, more than 30 municipalities in North America, including Toronto, Ontario; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Austin, Texas, have taken similar action. These laws are an attempt to curb the abuse and neglect inherent in large-scale commercial breeding facilities, which churn out purebred puppies, kittens and rabbits while the “breeder” animals spend their entire lives in barren wire cages, impregnated again and again until they are physically worn down and discarded.