City moves to restrict pet sales

Toronto pet owners are applauding the decision by a Toronto committee that restricts how dogs and cats can be purchased.

In a unanimous decision, councilors voted to restrict pet shops to selling dogs and cats acquired only from shelters, humane societies and certified breeders.

Councillors hope the move limits the number of pets raised by so-called "puppy mills" that produce the pets for sale in large quantities.

"What we're trying to do is stop puppy mills," said Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker. "Those evil, evil people who are mass producing puppies."

Pet stores account for about 9 per cent of cats and 10 per cent of dogs sold in Toronto. The discussion about the unwanted pets does not cover the 91 percent of cats and the 90 percent of dogs that are obtained directly from breeders, or through other retail sources.

Toronto currently does not certify breeders.

One owner happy with the decision is Kate Steen. Although Steen bought Tiki, a 5-year old French bulldog, from a pet store she believes it came from a puppy mill.

Steen says if she knew then what she knows now she would have never spent her money at a pet store. So far she has accumulated a stack of vet bills totaling more than $40,000.

"She has an auto immune disease that is caused by in-breeding," Steen said of Tiki. "She also has a lot of behavioral quirks that some have suggested she comes from a puppy mill."

"So far the running total is $42,000. If I can go a month without going to the vet it is a good month."

If approved by the full city council on June 14, Toronto would becomethe second Canadian city to pass a motion on pet stores. Richmond, B.C., opted to ban the sale of pet store dogs last year.