Letters: L.A.’s pet store law

Re “L.A. law would bar sale of pets from puppy mills,” Oct. 25

Kudos to the Los Angeles City Council for its preliminary vote to ban sales of commercially bred dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores.

This ordinance would not only prevent animals from suffering in the miserable mass-breeding mills that often supply puppies, kittens and bunnies to pet stores, it would also help save the lives of countless homeless animals by encouraging people to adopt their companions from shelters instead of buying them from pet stores.

Pet stores can still make a mint by selling companion animal supplies and accessories. Live animal sales account for only a small fraction of pet stores’ profits. Last year, Americans spent more than $11 billion on companion animal supplies, and that number is expected to be even higher this year.

I urge the City Council to formally pass this ordinance next week.

Teresa Chagrin

Norfolk, Va.

The writer is an animal care and control specialist at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

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