Canada/Calgary considers banning the sale of pets in pet stores
In Calgary, the municipal government wants to ban the sale of pets in stores, in order to relieve overcrowding in overcrowded shelters.
The city council is reconsidering a proposal to ban the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in retail outlets.
The measure, which could profoundly alter the landscape of pet ownership in the Alberta metropolis, is provoking contrasting reactions from animal welfare advocates and retailers.
An unprecedented capacity crisis
A briefing note presented to the City Council's Community Development Committee reports a decline in the rate of reunification of pets with their owners, and an increase in cases where owners cite pretexts for getting rid of their pets.
Brad Nichols, deputy director of the Calgary Humane Society, says people do desperate things when they can no longer place their pets in shelters.
We're full, overwhelmed. There's a waiting list of several hundred dogs. We have to examine them and sort out the animals that need medical care.
A quote from Brad Nichols, Calgary Humane Society
Brad Nichols adds that the Society receives several thousand abandoned animals each year, and has to work with a system that can't keep up with demand.
A threat to businesses
The plan to ban the sale of pets would force stores to obtain animals only from local shelters or rescue organizations.
Brad Nichols supports the motion, believing that supporting mass commercial breeding in the current capacity crisis makes absolutely no sense.
In his view, a ban would be a step in the right direction for animal welfare.
Robert Church, owner of The Top Dog Store, maintains that changing the regulations would force him to close his business.
Robert Church is puzzled by the city's motives.
We don't know what the city is trying to solve. No one has told us about this, so we have no idea why.
A quote from Robert Church, owner of The Top Dog Store
Mr. Church stands behind the quality and origin of his animals, which he says are sourced from Alberta producers with whom he has worked closely for nearly twenty years. He describes his animals as exceptionally well-bred, very healthy and very well socialized.
On-line trade implicated
The municipal report indicates that around 40 Calgary businesses sell pets legally.
For Robert Church, the real problem lies in unregulated online sales, particularly on platforms such as Kijiji.
He believes that at any given time, thousands of animals are being offered under opaque conditions, exposing buyers to scams, dubious practices and no possibility of recourse.
The owner of The Top Dog Store calls for all stakeholders to work together to regulate the sector and promote responsible pet ownership education, rather than targeting local retailers who he believes are not contributing to overpopulation.
Robert Church also believes that the crisis in shelter capacity is not due to an explosion in the pet population, but to the fact that fewer people are adopting animals due to high costs and a lack of pet-friendly housing.
Brad Nichols asserts that shelters offer a wide variety of animals to meet most prospective owners' needs.
Robert Church concludes that he and his company would like to work with the City to find solutions, as we don't know what the City is trying to fix.
Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/
