Bay Ward Coun. Mark Taylor is speaking out against a proposal that would ban the sale of cats and dogs in Ottawa pet stores.
Taylor says the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals already has an effective system for monitoring the welfare of animals sold in pet stores.
He says federal legislation, not municipal bylaws are needed to prevent puppy mills and over- breeding.
“Federal laws have more teeth than ours do,” Taylor says.
Such laws can cover more territory and prevent inhumane breeders from finding loopholes around municipal and provincial regulation.
Katie Hately of Vanier disagrees. In a letter to city councillors, she expressed support for the ban.
“If it makes any sort of impact, it should be done,” says Hately.
Hately is an animal lover who took in two cats from a friend in Centretown when their cat had unexpected kittens.Whether it’s a shelter animal or unintended offspring, Hately says “people should be encouraged to go for the animals that need them.”
The Ottawa Humane Society spays and neuters all its cats and dogs, if the pet is too young or unfit, the new owner is required to complete the process later on, and can get a refund of $80 for the process from the OHS.
By selling only neutered animals, sheltered pets can help prevent pet overpopulation.
Current OHS rules have potential owners fill out a questionnaire so an “adoption counsellor” can make sure the person knows “what they’re getting into.”
Not everyone agrees that shelter pets make better pets, however.
“We’re certainly not knocking the shelters,” says Susan Dankert, of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council.
“But not everyone’s comfortable with a pet from a shelter.”
PIJAC is firmly against the ban of cat and dog sales in pet stores.
Dankert says PIJAC’s priority is helping educate pet stores on how to keep their animals healthy and encouraging responsible consumer choices.
Pet Circus, a pet store on Bank Street, doesn’t sell dogs, and its cats are from a local shelter, but owner Bob MacFarlane says he still doesn’t agree with a ban.
“I don’t believe in legislation. It’s not going to do anything, unfortunately,” says MacFarlane. Like Taylor, he thinks focussing on the pet stores is drawing attention away from inhumane breeders.
“They have to go after the bad guys,” says MacFarlane.
Despite the publicity around the issue, Taylor says city council’s decision to consider the suggestion “is a far cry from saying they’ll bring in the law.”