Naperville Nixes Commercial Dog, Cat Breeder Sales: Report

NAPERVILLE, IL — Naperville has joined a growing number of suburbs that are banning the sale of cats and dogs from commercial breeders. The city council voted 5 to 4 to approve such an ordinance that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2021.

Council members were presented with two options for the vote. Option A was the all-out ban on commercial breeders and Option B would permit stores to sell cats and dogs if they complied with specific standards set forth by the Humane Society of America.

Throughout the meeting, the city council chambers were filled with a sea of residents and other advocates wearing yellow shirts that read "Go Humane." Many of them took to the podium to voice their support for option A before the voting began.

Representatives from Pet Land were one hand to oppose the ordinance, which will impact their Naperville business, along with Happiness is Pets. Imani Johnson, a Naperville resident and Petland Naperville general manager said, "I have had multiple opportunities to visit breeders and see for myself the living conditions of the dogs." She added, "We work great with breeders who love their dogs and do the right thing."

Johnson went on to suggest that option A would eliminate all 25 jobs at Petland Naperville.

Council woman Patricia Gustin said, "We are a community that cares for animals and the people of our community," before motioning to approve option A.

Councilman Kevin Coyne spoke out in favor of option B, saying, "How does our passing [option A] attack those mills that we believe our legislators failed to attack either on the state level or the federal level?"

Coyne said he didn't see evidence that passing option A would do that. He said he was even more concerned that it "might make things worse" by forcing residents to go online to purchase pets.

When the vote was called, council members Gustin, Hinterlong, Kelly, Sullivan, and Brodhead voted in support of option A. Mayor Steve Chirico, along with council members Coyne, Krummen and White cast their votes in opposition to option A.

Moments later, the group of yellow-clad supporters erupted in cheers and applause.

The new ordinance will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021, but there's no word yet on when or whether the affected pet stores in Naperville plan to relocate.

Downers Grove passed a similar ordinance in March of 2019 that banned pet sales that do not comply with specific standards regarding animal sales. The Downers Grove Happiness is Pets location closed in October, shortly after fines for violating the ordinance would have taken effect.