Is an End to Puppy Mills in Sight?
The fight to ban puppy mills has been an ongoing battle for animal activists worldwide for many years now. While few successes have been reported, the plight to end this inhumane industry has been getting necessary attention in recent weeks and some much-needed action is finally being taken—starting in California.
California Councilman Paul Koretz is at the helm of the fight to ban puppy mills. Representing Los Angeles’ 5th District, Koretz has been taking part in the ongoing struggle to permanently shut down puppy mill operations in the greater Los Angeles area—and hopefully initiate similar legislation in other cities around the U.S.
“The ban of puppy mills is just a piece of the issue,” Koretz told the LA Times. “It’s probably of more symbolic importance than anything else.”
Last year alone, more than 56,000 cats and dogs entered the Los Angeles shelter system—one of the highest years on record—and the puppy mill industry will likely make those numbers rise even higher in the coming years. Councilman Koretz, like many others, unknowingly purchased a “puppy mill” Bichon 20 years ago that suffered from extensive medical issues. Now, he is championing the fight to end the breeding and selling of puppy mill dogs…and for the first time, seems to be on the winning side of the battle.
The City Council of Los Angeles recently voted on Koretz’s motion and have approved the drafting of a law that not only prohibits the commercial breeding of cats, dogs, rabbits and chickens, but also restricts the sale of mill-bred animals in pet stores, a huge step in the right direction according to several animal welfare groups around the country. The Los Angeles Department of Animal Services will collaborate on the writing and enforcement of the new law, and will also help implement shelter dog adoptions within pet stores.
Although this landmark law will take several years to make any noticeable change in the system, it has set the precedent for other states to emulate and establish similar legislation. In the past week alone, a South Carolina puppy mill kennel was shut down and all of the remaining dogs were put into foster homes.
The end to the puppy mill industry may be a slow process, beginning in a single city and spreading from there. But the impact of this ban in Los Angeles County is a huge victory for all of those dogs that have been subjected to the puppy mill cruelty for far too long.
“We need to show people through compassion and lead by example — this means adopting and not shopping at pet stores and getting our pets spayed and neutered,” Cesar said. “Let’s get rid of these puppy mills once and for all!”
