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Cat, dog sale ban decision delayed
Jessey Bird
Windsor Star
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Windsor pet store owners concerned about whether they will be banned from
selling dogs and cats will have to wait for a final decision.
A recommendation by the city's licensing commission that included banning dog
and cat sales at pet shops was delayed Tuesday pending additional research.
"Without the sale of puppies, we're gone," said Mike Drouillard, owner of
Corbret's Pets. "We would have to move our business out of the city."
Corbret's Pets doesn't sell many cats, but Drouillard said he sells between 12
and 20 puppies a month. He told the commission Windsor's over-population problem
isn't the fault of pet shop owners, but "neglectful or irresponsible pet
owners."
The report recommended council adopt one or more of the four proposals for
stricter control of pet stores, including preventing dog and cat sales.
"It's unconscionable that we are importing cats to an environment where there
isn't enough space for them in good homes," said John Roushorne, executive
director of the Windsor-Essex County Humane Society.
In 2006 the humane society euthanized 223 dogs and 4,041 cats, a three per cent
increase over 2005. Besides pit bulls, the humane society has not euthanized an
adoptable dog since 2004.
Before making a final recommendation to city council, the commission will seek
veterinarian input. It will also consider the mandating of spaying and
neutering, as well as grandfathering pet stores so only current stores can sell,
said licensing commissioner Diane Sibley.
If the ban is passed, Windsor will be the first municipality to restrict the
sale of cats and dogs in pet stores.
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=71d3e403-eef0-464e-af42-97208c5a99d5
Comment: Ideally, our group would like to
see all animal sales prohibited by pet stores. There is far too much suffering
and cruelty associated with this industry, and as most animals are purchased on
impulse, the chances are awfully high that the kitten, rabbit, bird, or any
other “pet” will not end up in a forever-home.
Pet retailers to weigh
lawsuit against city
Craig Pearson
Windsor Star
Thursday, December 13, 2007
REGULATIONS QUESTIONED: Chad Drouillard, part owner of Corbret's Pets, with Pug.
Railers say they may sue over the city's pet store bylaws.
The president of a national pet industry association says Windsor's tough new
pet shop bylaw -- which he calls the first of its kind in Canada -- creates an
uneven playing field and may be challenged in court.
On Monday, city council passed a series of regulations, but stopped short of a
controversial proposal to ban pet stores from selling cats and dogs.
Pet shops must now have a written agreement with a veterinarian for on-call
service for emergency veterinary treatment and humane euthanasia of any animals
kept for sale or display; must have suitable exercise areas; and must have an
annual inspection form filled out by an investigator before they can have
licences renewed.
But the new regulation which critics challenge most is that the city will
consider revoking licences of any establishment if the humane society places an
order on it or finds an animal in distress.
"It's disappointing," Louis McCann, executive director of the Pet Industry Joint
Advisory Council of Canada, said Wednesday. "We're not opposed to stores being
regulated. But it should apply to all pet establishments."
McCann said new regulations should also apply to the local humane society.
John Roushorne, executive director of the Windsor-Essex County Humane Society,
said he's pleased the city now has the power to revoke a licence from rogue
operators, though he had hoped for a ban on the sale of cats and dogs.
McCann thinks city inspectors should make orders against pet shops and the
humane society alike.
"If you have an establishment that really does not want pet stores selling pets,
and that establishment has the power to issue orders, and the pet stores need a
licence to sell pets, what do you think is going to happen?" McCann asked. "You
would never see another scenario like this, where you put somebody who is in a
position of competition to enforce laws with their competitor. It's ridiculous."
McCann said the Windsor situation will be discussed, and a legal challenge
considered, at the national board meeting of the association -- which represents
almost 600 members -- Jan. 12 and 13 in Montreal.
Mayor Eddie Francis said he believes the new bylaw is close to what the pet
council suggested in a Dec. 6 letter.
"I would be the first to admit that if council passed a law banning pet stores
from selling cats and dogs there may be an issue, because that's what pet stores
are in the business of selling," Francis said.
Dennis Radosz, manager of Corbret's Pets on Tecumseh Road, said he's upset the
new bylaw singles out pet stores.
"I agree with PIJAC that if city council's going to pass this, it should apply
to the humane society, boarders, breeders and everybody else," he said.
- Pet store bylaw may bring about
accountability
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
I applaud the City of Windsor for the new bylaws regarding pet stores. It is
time these business owners are held accountable for the health and
well-being of the animals they sell. Those who speak for pet stores believe
that the humane society is also a pet store and should be licensed as such.
I have yet to see any shelter purchase animals for profit, or any pet store
be not-for-profit. That is a lame argument by pet store supporters and they
should be ashamed that a bylaw has had to be put in place.
WENDY GATEHOUSE
- Harrow
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- Pet store crackdown will uphold
standards
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
I'm disgusted, though not surprised, that the Pet Industry Joint Advisory
Council is opposed to tightened regulation of pet stores. In every city,
there are responsible stores, but also nightmarish operations.
Anyone familiar with politics knows that bylaws don't arise from a vacuum;
they are problem-driven. If PIJAC were responsible, it would object to those
who give their industry a bad name. It would encourage measures that would
uphold humane standards.
Most troubling is their suggestion that the humane society is essentially a
pet store. PIJAC knows full well that, unlike pet stores, the humane society
makes no profit from its animals, and in fact loses money on adoptions. The
adoption package includes veterinary services typically valued at two to
three times the price of adoption. They're also fully aware that the humane
society is subject to inspection by the Ministry of Agriculture.
There's a simple solution to this. Whenever the humane society finds a
pet-store animal in distress, call the city and have the bylaw unit send a
car around. This entirely eliminates this "conflict of interest" notion.
Perhaps instead of threatening lawsuits, PIJAC could try making constructive
suggestions that would protect both the businesses and the animals in their
care.
SUSAN WELDON
- Windsor
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