Dallas prohibits sale of dogs and cats in pet stores

Due to a new legislation adopted to crack down on puppy mills, pet retailers in Dallas, Texas, may soon be unable to sell dogs or cats.

The Dallas Humane Pet Store Ordinance, which prohibits the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores and encourages stores to partner with animal charities and shelters to offer creatures for adoption, was passed by a Dallas City Council Committee on Wednesday.

“We have been working tirelessly since January 2021 to pass this ordinance to close the puppy mill pipeline to Dallas in order to stop hundreds of sick puppies from being shipped from out-of-state puppy mills,” said Stacy Sutton Kerby of the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) in a release about the ordinance.

“The THLN helpline has received several complaints over the years regarding Dallas retail outlets selling sick or sickly puppies,” she stated. “We are grateful to Chair Adam Bazaldua, Mayor Pro Tem Chad West, the whole Quality of Life, Arts, and Culture Committee, and city staff for their support and attention to such a critical animal welfare issue right here in our neighbourhood,” said the committee.

In November, the ordinance will go into effect. Other Texas communities that have enacted similar prohibitions include Fort Worth, Euless, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, and Waco.

“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,” Karen Froehlich, president of the SPCA of Texas, said in a statement. “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.”

Dallas isn’t the only city cracking down on pet-related issues; the Department of Sanitation in New York City recently announced plans to implement the “Curb Your Dog” rule, which fines dog owners who don’t pick up their pets’ waste from city streets, parks, and sidewalks.

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