HomeMy WebLinkAbout062722 Letter Testimony for City CouncilLetter Testimony for City Council June 27, 2022
Dear Honorable Mayor Pavone and distinguished Council Members. My name is Gina Cari; I am a Renton
resident/voter and an animal advocate. I, along with my fellow animal advocates, have been waiting
with baited breath for Renton to pass a Humane Ordinance. I applaud the hard work that the Planning
Commission put into this and thank them for their recommendation of an immediate 90 day effective
date. I am unsure what changed.
Just as a quick timeline review:
• Beginning on January 27, 2021, Bailing Out Benji contacted the Renton City Council about passing a
humane ordinance.
• On February 8, 2021, Bailing Out Benji contacted the Renton City Council making them aware that
Puppyland was preparing to open a pet store in Renton, selling puppymill puppies.
• On February 12, 2021, Puppyland opened their doors and started selling puppymill puppies here in
Renton without a business license.
• On March 8, 2021, The Renton City Council referred “Retail Pet Sales” to the Planning Commission.
• On July 27, 2021, Puppyland finally obtained a business license (over 5 months AFTER opening). (I
don’t understand why they were allowed to do business without a license and without regulations,
but they did!)
• In the meantime at the state level, HB 1424 had its first reading on January 29, 2021. Governor
Inslee signed HB1424 on April 16, 2021 (passed in 4 months) with an effective date of July 25, 2021
(accomplished in 7 months).
• Almost a year ago, on August 18, 2021, the Renton Planning Commission held a public hearing for
the proposed retail pet sales regulations.
• On December 15, 2021, the Renton Planning Commission announced they will be pursuing a
humane ordinance in response to public outcry.
• On January 19, 2022, it was announced that in the anticipation of a lawsuit, starting the hearing
process for a Humane Ordinance is again delayed. I do not understand why we continue to allow
Puppyland to do business (making money so they can file a lawsuit against us).
• On February 28, 2022 I asked, where do we go from here? How many more steps are there and
what’s the timeline? My personal goal is that Puppyland is no longer selling puppies by the 4th of
July. Is that possible?” It saddens me we will not meet that goal.
Today, I hope you will consider implementing the new drafted ordinance as soon as possible, like by
August 1st. We’ve been having this discussion for way too long providing Puppyland many opportunities
to change their ways. We are not shutting them down, we are not forcing them to leave we are only
closing the pipeline of puppy mill puppies to Renton. Puppyland has already burdened our rescues,
Seattle Humane and our general population without putting a dime into a safety net for these dogs. We
are bearing the safety net cost of them doing business here. Please enact this ordinance sooner rather
than later. I do not want to go through another holiday season. August 1st may seem soon, however,
this has been in the makes since they opened their business without a business license. Please, please,
please enact this ordinance and make it effective by August 1st or no later than September 1st.
Thank you very much.