Indianapolis City-County Council proposing pet sales ban

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — On March 6, the Indianapolis Metropolis-County Council will vote to ban pet shops from promoting canine, cats and rabbits.

Some huge field shops solely promote pets from shelters or rescues.

Erin Huang, the previous state director for the Humane Society, mentioned, “There are nonetheless some outliers within the trade that proceed to promote puppies and kittens which are sourced from huge breeders and brokers which are perhaps shipped throughout state traces.”

Huang requested Indianapolis Metropolis-County Councilor John Barth to suggest the measure.

“If Proposal 57 is handed by the Indianapolis Metropolis-County Council, Indianapolis will be part of over 440 localities, together with 13 Indiana cities in halting the sale of commercially raised canine, cats, and rabbits in pet shops. With this initiative, our metropolis will be part of an effort that has already shrunk the demand for pet mills,” Barth mentioned.

“You’re speaking about taking away puppies from their moms at 7 to eight weeks of age, which isn’t beneficial, after which transport them in vehicles in shut proximity to different puppies they usually have these weakened immune programs,” Huang mentioned.

If handed, the legislation would take impact Could 1 for pet shops that opened after September 1, 2021, and shops that opened earlier than that date have till Could 1, 2025, to conform.

The council is making an attempt to cross the ordinance earlier than legislators cross Senate Invoice 134.

The measure handed the senate final month. It could stop municipalities from banning pet shops from canine, cats and rabbits. The measure nonetheless wants home approval.