Proposed ordinance would limit retail sale of puppies in Tucson

Councilman Steve Kozachik is working on an ordinance to ban the sale of “puppy mill” dogs within the city.

Similar to the recently passed Phoenix ordinance, it would require retail pet shops to sell dogs that came from either a shelter or other nonprofit rescue group.

The ordinance is not about banning the selling of dogs, but admitting Tucson has a problem with crowded shelters and making pet stores become part of the solution,Kozachik said.

“We’ve got overstuffed shelters and rescue agencies where dogs are being euthanized for lack of good homes,” Kozachik said. “I’m hoping people who might be thinking of adding a puppy to their family for Christmas will avoid pet stores where we know many of the animals are coming from puppy mills that simply treat the dogs like a commodity.”

Next year, they might not have the choice.

“Phoenix just adopted a ban on retail sales unless the store gets their stock from a shelter or nonprofit rescue agency. They beat me to the punch,” Kozachik said. “I’ve been working on some draft language for the council to consider. I’m hoping to have it ready for sometime in January or early February.”

The move would affect four pet stores in the city that sell dogs. “Reputable” breeders would not be affected.

Jamie Massey, who has spent years organizing protests outside pet shops that sell animals from puppy mills, is optimistic Kozachik’s proposal will be passed.

“There are plenty of dogs here who need homes, there is no need to ship in dogs from the Midwest from a questionable source,” Massey said.

The number of businesses affected by a puppy mill ban would be relatively small, Massey believes.

A representative from Animal Kingdom at the Tucson Mall, which Massey says sells puppies from a massive puppy mill out of Missouri, referred questions to its corporate headquarters. A call to corporate headquarters was not immediately returned Friday.

Animal Kingdom’s website states “puppies are purchased only from caring private breeders. We do not support puppy mills nor any other unethical breeders.”

Kim Janes, manager of Pima Animal Care Center, believes the dogs in his shelter would be welcome in place of the puppies currently inside retail locations.

PACC has had great success with events outside the shelter walls, he says. Many dogs find new homes at events held at local PetSmart and Petco stores.

A manager for the shelter for the last eight years, Janes said the door is always open to bring dogs into new retail locations.

“We want to get a bigger share of the market,” he said.

Keri Nienstedt,  Arizona state director for the Humane Society of United States, said this type of legislation — aimed at reducing demand for dogs from large-scale breeders — is growing in popularity.

She said that since the city of Albuquerque enacted a puppy-mill ban in 2006, roughly 40 other cities in the U.S. and Canada have followed suit.

The Humane Society still believes retail pet stores are viable, but the group seeks to end animal cruelty often associated with large-scale breeding operations.

She noted that a common misconception was that pet stores worked directly with breeders of purebreds.

A survey of 200 breed clubs associated with the American Kennel Club found 97 percent had practices against selling to retailers, she said.

Pima County officials are also looking into the recently passed Phoenix ordinance, but it appears the county lacks authority to regulate pet-store sales. Still, the Pima County Attorney’s Office is reviewing whether puppy mills operating inside the county can be regulated.