Phoenix, AZ was one of the first major cities to make it illegal for pet stores to showcase animals from breeders. Rather, they have to offer rescue animals available for adoption.
Beverly Hills followed Arizona’s lead a year ago. This trend is great news for the many rescue pets who need homes.
While these laws don’t necessarily put breeding facilities out of business, the ordinance is a way for lawmakers to take a public stand against animal mills and animal trafficking. The hope is that these changes will inspire additional cities, where pets are frequently sold in stores, to pass similar laws.
Animals in mills are usually bred for profit with little concern for the health of the pet. Many animals in breeding situations spend the majority of their time in cages. They often don’t know how to play with toys and may not get much human attention, or time outside
Phoenix, as well as 59 other cities with similar laws, hope to deter the demand for animal mills, ultimately forcing many of the breeders out of business. We hope this trend continues so that more of the loving, healthy, available pets in shelters can find their forever homes.