Nutley Considering Law Banning Puppy, Kitten Sales In Pet Stores

NUTLEY, NJ — Would you support a law in Nutley that bans local pet stores from selling puppies or kittens? That’s the idea that Public Affairs Commissioner Steven Rogers floated to the Board of Commissioners during their Aug. 15 public meeting.

Ordinance 3368 would prevent the retail sale of puppies and kittens in pet shops, although the town doesn’t currently have a pet shop, TAP Into Nutley stated. Read the full report here.

A public hearing for the proposed law was slated for Sept. 19, but Rogers tabled the ordinance with hopes to refine the language of the bill before re-presenting it to the committee.

“The intent of this law is to ensure that the animals are protected and that we are not getting animals with inhumane treatment from puppy mills,” Rogers said. “We are heightening public awareness of the problem. It’s not going to hurt businesses because they are not selling them anyway.”

A similar law was passed in Livingston in March that only allows local pet stores to sell dogs and cats that come from animal control centers/shelters or animal rescue organizations.

• See related article: Livingston Council Bans Sale Of ‘Puppy Mill’ Dogs, Cats

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