A petition to put a stop to the sale of puppy mill pups and cats at two Newmarket pet shops has so far fetched 1,182 signatures.
Animal advocate Emiley Sheppard spearheaded the move after husband Chad discovered one local pet store selling about 25 of what appeared to be “designer” breed puppies at its Yonge Street and Mulock Drive location.
“Leaving dogs in cages or glass cubes, essentially 24/7, is heartbreaking,” Sheppard said.
Puppy mills, also known as puppy farms, are a multi-million dollar business in Canada that finds commercial breeders mass-producing puppies in substandard conditions for sale to pet stores, at flea markets, and online. Humane Canada says that puppy mills are "horrendous places that churn out as many puppies as possible, in the shortest amount of time and at the lowest expense."
“The response has been fantastic and I am so proud of Newmarket for stepping up so quickly to look into changing their bylaws," Sheppard said.
Newmarket’s local politicos and political-hopefuls have all thrown their support Sheppard’s way.
“As someone who has had a number of rescues, is a member of a rescue group, and has been a foster home for dogs for the Alliston Humane Society, I support the changes to our existing bylaw,” said Councillor Jane Twinney, who is seeking re-election in the Oct. 22 municipal election.
Ward 5 councillor-candidate Ron Eibel said his own dog’s mom was saved from a mill.
“Updating the bylaw and putting an end to puppy mills and the animal’s crummy living conditions (in pet shops) is at the top of my list to get working on,” said Eibel, if elected.
One of the solutions offered up by animal rights advocates is the ‘adopt, don’t shop’ philosophy of encouraging pet ownership through adoption from shelters and rescues, instead of buying them at pet stores.
Come February, Newmarket council is expected to hash out new pet store regulations. The Town currently does not have a bylaw regulating the sale of animals at pet stores.
To sign the petition, visit here
