For Immediate Release: Monday, October 27, 2014
Montgomery County Council Vice President George Leventhal on Tuesday, Oct. 28, will introduce Bill 50-14 before the Council that would prohibit a retail pet store from selling any dog or cat unless the retail pet store obtained the animal from an animal care facility or from a non-profit rescue organization.
The bill is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Roger Berliner, Cherri Branson, Marc Elrich, Nancy Navarro and Hans Riemer. A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
On Oct. 16, the Public Safety Committee received a briefing on puppy and kitten mills from the Humane Society and the Division of Animal Services. The link to information presented at that meeting can be found at:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/Resources/Files/agenda/cm/2014/141016/20141016_PS4.pdf .
Puppy mills are defined by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) as a "large-scale commercial dog breeding operations where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs." Commercial dog breeding is regulated both at the federal and state level, although these laws generally provide very minimal standards of care.
The Public Safety Committee worksession included discussion on the impact on both the physical and behavioral health of the pets, and other issues associated with large-scale sales of pets.
Maryland passed a law in 2012 that requires retail pet stores to display the name and address of the breeder or dealer who supplied the pet to the store.
Some states also have pet purchase protection laws that provide consumers with various remedies if they purchase a pet with health problems, including disease and congenital defects. Remedies range from reimbursement of sales price, reimbursement of veterinary costs (usually up to the price of the pet) and replacement of the pet. Maryland, however, does not have such protection laws.
“For many families, bringing a pet into their home is like adding a family member that will be with them for many years,” said Council Vice President Leventhal. “Bringing home a puppy or kitten that was obtained from a puppy mill increases the risk that the family pet will also bring endless health and behavioral problems. By taking action such as is proposed in this bill, we are trying to protect people who get their pets from Montgomery County pet stores and may not have considered where their pet came from.”
Release ID: 14-320