Editor,
Recently, local pet shops in Richmond, Canada, were banned from selling puppies.
This means that pet stores in Richmond are no longer legally allowed to sell puppies. This follows a similar law put into place in Richmond earlier this year banning rabbit sales. City councilors unanimously approved the laws in response to the city being overrun with abandoned pets.
Many argue that banning animal sales in one town won’t change much because residents can simply go to neighboring towns to buy pets.
However, I argue that this is the first step toward ending animal abandonment.
Forcing people to find a pet store in a neighboring town and then travel to buy it should reduce the number of pets bought on impulse. This leads to a higher percentage of pets being bought by owners who have considered what it means to be a pet owner, thereby reducing the number of abandoned animals.
Hopefully, other towns will follow suit. I personally am wondering when the bans on the animal sales, especially kittens, will be put into effect.
Kristene Welch
Community member
