SAYREVILLE – Citing issues of animal cruelty and the impact of their well-being, the Sayreville Borough Council has adopted an ordinance banning the sale of dogs and cats from pet shops associated with puppy and kitten mills in the borders of the borough.
On Dec. 16, council members adopted the ordinance that will prohibit the sale of dogs and cats from large-scale, commercial breeding facilities, colloquially known as “puppy mills” and “kitten mills”. The ordinance is scheduled to take effect 90 days after its adoption, March 15.
Under the ordinance, pet shops are prohibited from selling, delivering, offering for sale, bartering, auctioning, giving away or otherwise transferring or disposing of cats or dogs. Stores will still be permitted to collaborate with animal care facilities or animal rescue organizations to offer space for such entities to showcase adoptable dogs and cats.
According to the ordinance, documented abuses endemic to puppy and kitten mills include over-breeding, inbreeding, minimal to non-existent veterinary care, lack of adequate and nutritious food, water and shelter, lack of socialization, lack of adequate space and lack of adequate exercise.
“The inhumane conditions in puppy and kitten mill facilities lead to health and behavioral issues in the animals bred in those facilities, which many consumers are unaware of when purchasing animals from pet shops due to both a lack of education on the issue and misleading tactics of pet shops in some cases,” the ordinance reads. “These health and behavioral issues, which may not present themselves until sometime after the purchase of the animals, can impose exorbitant financial and emotional costs on the consumer.”
As stated in the ordinance, current federal and state regulations do not adequately address the sale of puppy and kitten mill dog and cats in pet shops. The ordinance cites a New Jersey Department of Health Animal Intake and Disposition Survey revealing thousands of dogs and cats are euthanized in New Jersey animal shelters annually.
“Restricting the retail sale of puppies and kittens to only those that are sourced from animal shelters and rescue organizations will likely reduce pet overpopulation and thus the burden on such agencies and financial costs on local taxpayers,” the ordinance reads.
The ordinance states that thousands of independent pet shops, as well as large chains, operate profitably with a business model focused on the sale of pet services and supplies and not on the sale of dogs and cats.
“Many of these shops collaborate with local animal shelters and rescue organizations to offer space and support for showcasing adoptable homeless pets on their premises,” the ordinance reads.
The ordinance also states that it will not affect a consumer’s ability to obtain a dog or cat of his or her choice directly from a breed-specific rescue organization or a shelter, or from a hobby breeder where the consumer can see directly the conditions in which the dogs or cats are bred, or can confer directly with the hobby breeder concerning those conditions.
“The mayor and borough council believe it is in the best interests of the Borough of Sayreville to adopt reasonable regulation to reduce costs to the borough and its residents, protect the citizens of the borough who may purchase cats and dogs from a pet shop or other business establishment, help prevent inhumane breeding conditions, promote community awareness of animal welfare and foster a more humane environment in the borough,” the ordinance reads.
