Most TO pet shops already don't sell dogs and cats - Toronto Sun
At least one pet store operator was upset Wednesday with a new city bylaw restricting where they can get the dogs and cats they sell.
The restriction casts a bad light on all pet shops, the manager of Downtown Pets and Aquarium said.
"I don't think it's really fair because they make it look like all pet stores are not nice to animals and don't take care of them," Mary Wong said. "But our voice is so small. No one listens."
Wong stopped selling dogs and cats two years ago after an officer came into her store and berated her for keeping her daughter's dog in the store.
"We have a good reputation," she said. "No one ever complained we sell sick animals or whatever. We used to get them from a U.S. kennel with check-ups and papers. And now with this, people will just go to the Internet. How can they regulate that?"
The PJ's Pets chain announced in August, it was no longer selling puppies in their stores as of Sept. 1 and instead, choosing to work with private kennels to feel adoptive homes for dogs of all ages.
"This decision allows us to create the welcoming space within our stores needed for adoption agencies and customers to connect," said PJ's president John Jules in a statement.
Some mom 'n' pop stores such as Boubahs Pet Store on St. Clair Ave. W. hope the new regulations will cause puppy mills to shut down and place more weight on animal welfare.
"Coming from a licensed breeder will help keep the animal's health and best interests in mind," said employee Julie Fitzgerald. "Adopting is good. For us, we keep a limited amount of animals in our store, just to ensure they're properly cared for. The thing with bigger stores is that may not be the case."
22 Sep, 2011--
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNF09_meFrVV-n0UwVJw-LhbOcpmnA&url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/21/most-to-pet-shops-already-dont-sell-dogs-and-cats
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