HomeMy WebLinkAboutElizabeth Oreck 8.25.21 Attachment 3
23 August 2021
Renton Planning Commission
Sent via Email
Re: Proposed pet sales ordinance — response to August 18th hearing testimony
Honorable Chair Matson and members of the Renton Planning Commission:
On behalf of our national nonprofit organizations and our collective members, staff and supporters in Renton and
throughout the state of Washington, we wanted to reach out to you to express our continued support for an ordinance
that would prohibit the sale of dogs and cats in Renton pet stores. Such an ordinance is the only way to cut off the
puppy mill-to-Renton pipeline and protect consumers from misleading sales tactics, sick puppies, and predatory
lending. We also wanted to provide some clarification on a few inaccuracies that came up during the August 18th
meeting with respect to the proposed pet sales ordinance.
1. Contrary to what was stated, the statewide pet sales bill (HB 1424) did not grandfather in stores that previously sold
cats. That provision applied only to stores that sold dogs. “A retail pet store that sold or offered for sale any dog prior
to the effective date of this section may sell or offer for sale a dog.” Further, there is nothing in HB 1424 that prevents
Renton, or any other jurisdiction in Washington, from enacting an ordinance stricter than what the state enacted.
2. It was suggested that pet stores should only use breeders who comply with certain animal welfare standards,
including those of the state of Washington. Unfortunately, Renton does not have the authority or the ability to regulate
breeders outside of your jurisdiction and there is no reliable oversight agency that inspects breeders for humane
standards. The USDA and state agencies merely hold commercial breeders to survival standards, and enforcement
is severely lacking. As such, Renton would not know if an Indiana breeder keeps dogs in cages large enough for them
to be comfortable or a Wisconsin breeder always has clean water and food available to their dogs, and the pet stores
would know Renton had no way of verifying this so they would have no incentive to comply.
3. One of the pet store lobbyists claimed that “the CDC issued a ban on import of animals that end up in our rescues.”
While this statement was merely an attempt to deflect from all the serious issues puppy-selling pet stores pose, it was
also inaccurate. The CDC did not issue a ban, but rather a temporary suspension, and it’s due to a rabies concern.
Further, it also applies to U.S. residents’ owned pets, which make up the majority of imported dogs. More relevant,
however, is the CDC’s stated concerns with puppy-selling pet stores, due to antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter
outbreaks and the overuse of antibiotics in the puppy mill and pet store industries. See Outbreak of Multidrug-
resistant Campylobacter Infections Linked to Contact with Pet Store Puppies
4. One of the pet store owners testified that “We don’t have a breeder with 1,200 dogs.” Yet, public records show
otherwise. Attached are the most recent USDA inspection reports for the breeder (AJ’s Angels in Cushing,
Minnesota) of a puppy sold by Puppyland. According to the USDA report, the breeder had 1,267 dogs on site at
last inspection. At the previous inspection, the breeder had 1,368 dogs on site (USDA inspection reports attached).
Either the pet store owner is not familiar with their own breeders or they sought to hide the fact that the store
sources from such a large facility. Similarly, a Puppyland owner refused to confirm or deny if the store sourced
puppies from JAKs—a large-scale broker based in Iowa from which the majority of Puppyland’s puppies are sourced,
according to public records.
5. Commissioner Alberson asked several times about the holding period at JAKS. One of the Puppyland owners
responded that the holding period is four to five days so that “they can do all the paperwork and vaccinate them.”
A lobbyist for the store said it’s also so that JAKS can “make sure they don’t have Parvo.” Yet, according to the
Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, the incubation period for Parvo (which is highly contagious and often fatal)
is up to 14 days, meaning holding puppies for 4-5 days is not sufficient for preventing a Parvo outbreak.
6. One of the pet store owners testified that pet store ordinances lead to people buying milled puppies on Craigslist
and Facebook, and said, “That’s what happened in California after the statewide ban.” Yet, there is no evidence of
that. What did occur in California, however, is that JAKS Puppies formed sham rescues to help pet stores circumvent
the law, leading to the Iowa Attorney General bringing action against JAKS Puppies for violating the Iowa Consumer
Fraud Act.
Further, there is no evidence that stopping the sale of puppies in pet stores leads people to buy from a “black market”
which usually refers to online sales. Pet stores cater to impulse buyers who fall for the cute puppy in the window.
Those impulse buyers would likely not buy a puppy at all if it weren’t for the pet store. Pet stores also cater to
customers who want to meet a puppy in person before purchase. That is not possible with online purchases. Those
people would likely look to a responsible breeder they meet in person or a shelter or rescue instead. It’s also important
to note that online sales are not a “black market.” Since 2013, the USDA has regulated those who sell over the internet.
In other words, USDA breeders who sell to pet stores and who sell over the internet fall under the exact same federal
regulation. Pet stores, however, are not regulated by the USDA.
7. One of the pet store owners testified that online puppy scams and “meeting strange people in parking lots” would be
the result of a pet store ordinance. This ignores the reality that residents will still be able to adopt from a shelter or
rescue or seek out a responsible breeder who only sells directly to the public. It also ignores the fact that Renton
residents had no trouble finding the pet of their choice before Puppyland moved into town.
In fact, according to the American Kennel Club Marketplace, within 50 miles of Renton, there are puppies of the
following popular breeds available directly from breeders: Miniature Pinschers, Poodles, French Bulldogs,
Chihuahuas, English Springer Spaniels, Toy Fox Terriers, Pomeranians, Shih Tzus, English Setters, Labrador
Retrievers, Miniature Schnauzers, Bichon Frises, Shibu Inus, Pugs, Cavalier Kings Charles Spaniels, and Golden
Retrievers, with many more coming soon. And that doesn’t even include all the popular mixed breeds available in the
area, which aren’t included because AKC only includes purebreds.
On Petfinder.com there are currently 551 cats and kittens available for adoption within 50 miles of Renton, as well
as 825 dogs and puppies available for adoption, including Dachshunds, Labrador Retrievers, Cattle Dogs, Australian
Shepherds, Norfolk Terriers, Shih Tzus, German Shorthairs, Huskies, Australian Kelpies, and many other breeds and
mixed breeds.
We appreciate your time and thoughtfulness when considering this ordinance and hope that you will not hesitate to let
us know if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
Respectfully,
Ashly C. Dale Elizabeth Oreck Dan Paul
Director of Operations National Manager, Puppy Mill Initiatives Washington State Director
Bailing Out Benji Best Friends Animal Society Humane Society of the United States
bailingoutbenji.com bestfriends.org humanesociety.org