Bill to Ban Dog, Cat Sales in Stores Draws Debate

From Montgomery Community Media:

A bill proposed by Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal to ban pet stores from selling dogs or cats – an aim at thwarting puppy mills – drew vocal supporters on both sides of the issue at a Jan. 27 public hearing.

Just Puppies on Veirs Mill Road is a pet store that sells puppies in Montgomery County but because it is in the city of Rockville it would not be subject to county laws, such as Bill 50-14.

The executive vice president of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council said that is one reason his organization is opposed to this bill.

“It’s a solution looking for a problem,” Mike Bober said. “Montgomery County doesn’t have any such pet stores currently in operation.”

Leventhal said the bill would prevent stores from doing that in the future. According to Leventhal, no bill he has proposed in his more than 12 years on the council has attracted as much public reaction as this one.

The proposal has the support of the Humane Society of the United States and Pet Connect Rescue. Representatives from both organizations testified at the public hearing and many in the crowd applauded their testimony.

Bob Yarnall of the American Canine Association traveled to Montgomery County from central Florida to testify against the bill. He noted that 35 of the 41 dogs at the county’s animal shelter were of pit bull mix and he said consumers deserve more choices when selecting a pet.

The owner of Just Puppies, Mitchell Thomson, also testified against the bill.

Another Montgomery County pet store business owner, Ruth Hanessian, testified against the bill even though her store does not sell dogs and cats.

“If legitimate retail options, which are licensed, inspected and collect sales tax are eliminated, citizens wanting a puppy will increasingly move to unregulated sources,” she said.

Many others were in favor of the bill, including a representative from the county executive’s office.

The Council’s Public Safety Committee has tentatively scheduled a work session on this bill at 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 5.

»Council members Leventhal, Marc Elrich, Tom Hucker and Sidney Katz listened to the testimony of nearly 30 residents last week. Photo by Montgomery Community Media

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