Arlington Heights Opts Out of Puppy Mill Ordinance

The Arlington Heights Village Board on Monday voted to opt out of an ordinance regulating puppy mills in Cook County so the local governing body can establish its own rules, the Daily Herald reports.

Mayor Tom Hayes said the village board will look at new regulations for pet stores that will help find a middle ground between business owners and animal activists, according to the article. The village board plans to set up its own rules for pet stores within the next 60 days.

“This is difficult, personal and complex issue for people on all sides,” Village Manager Randy Recklaus told the Daily Herald. “What this does is allows the village and community to have a debate about how we want to handle this issue in Arlington Heights rather than reply on the Cook County ordinance.”

Under the Cook County rules, one pet store in Arlington Heights, Happiness is Pets, 15 W. Golf Road, would have had to close, the newspaper reports. 

Read more on the Daily Herald.