HomeMy WebLinkAboutGina Cari 8.19.212021 August 18 Renton Planning Commission Meeting
Thank you Planning Commission Members for this opportunity to share my point of view on the
proposed Retail Pet Sales recommendations versus an Humane Ordinance. My name is Gina
Cari and I am a Renton resident.
I would like to say “Not in my backyard!” Please do not allow the sale of puppy-mill puppies
here in Renton. The proposed retail pet sales recommendations do not provide for real
regulation, funding of enforcement, or repercussions should Puppyland fail to meet these
minimum standards. It does not fix the problem or get to the root of the issue. It also
potentially adds a burden to our Animal Control department that is already stretched to
capacity.
I have been wading through the information on both sides of this issue. There is a plethora of
information available from a variety of responsible organizations about puppy-mill puppies and
I hope you agree with me, it is disgraceful that people are making a profit off of the production
of puppies. Let me repeat that. It is disgraceful that people are making a profit off of the
production of puppies.
We all know the horrors occurring in puppy mills as it has been well-documented. It breaks my
heart that there are humans in this world that can do such unspeakable things to any animal. I
do not want this type of behavior to be rewarded inadvertently by unsuspecting Renton
consumers. When I read, “Puppy mills exist because the public is funding them. Dogs are
suffering because the public doesn’t do their research before they buy.” It breaks my heart.
We’ve done the research, now let’s fix the problem. Currently, we have professional breeders
as well as rescue dogs available for adoption. Let’s support them.
What I am reading from Puppyland are pretty words with no substantiation of their words nor
transparency of their business practices. What I’m hearing is that you can’t get in the door
without allowing them to take a photo of your ID. If this is really true, I hope as leaders of our
community you see the dangers of this practice and feel a need to protect our consumers from
possible identification theft whether on purpose or accidentally due to no security practices in
place to protect Rentonite’s personal information.
Also, the copies of Puppyland agreements being shared by past consumers indicate
exceptionally high interest rates that again, as business leaders I hope you would want to
protect Rentonites from predatory loans. If this is untrue, please Puppyland, share your loan
documents online as well as the prices of your puppies online so folks will know what to expect
before they walk in the door.
Puppyland also sells other pet-related products and there isn’t a quality pet store in that area.
Puppyland could easily be a viable business without selling puppy mill puppies. There are 89.7
million dogs owned nationwide and it is big business. Washington State ranks 14th in pet
ownership with 67.2% of households having a pet. According to the latest survey, 80% of pet
owners consider their pet as a family member.
2021 August 18 Renton Planning Commission Meeting
Next door, Kitsap County and some other nearby cities have already passed an humane
ordinance versus retail pet sales regulations. We should be leading this effort rather than
following it. I’m counting on you to choose to pass an humane ordinance. I’m hoping you will
do the right thing and outlaw the sale of puppy-mill puppies here in Renton. Let’s be on the
front-end of this movement and do the right thing now!
Gina Cari
Renton Resident