WASHINGTON — Say goodbye to that puppy in the window: Montgomery County is considering a ban on selling puppies and kittens at retail stores.
A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday night.
Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal says the bill is among the most popular he’s ever worked on.
Leventhal says the Humane Society of the United States requested the bill, and he says it struck him as a sound idea.
“There’s a concern about inhumane treatment of animals,” Leventhal said.
The language in the bill refers to “certain animals” but targets the sale of puppies, dogs and cats.
It would not affect independent dog and cat breeders who do not sell to retailers, Leventhal said. The bill only applies to selling animals in a retail setting.
Under the bill, “You cannot procure puppies from breeders outside the state and sell live puppies that come from breeders.” Rescue animals could be offered for adoption or sale at pet stores, but not those produced by breeders. The bill is aimed at so-called “puppy mills” — breeding operations that produce litters on a mass scale for sale in retail outlets.
Leventhal says only one retailer sells puppies in Montgomery County, and it’s in Rockville, Maryland. So if the bill is enacted it would not automatically apply to the Rockville retailer. Leventhal says he’s been in contact with Rockville Councilmember Julie Palakovich-Carr about making Rockville law consistent with the Montgomery County law if the bill is passed.
The only retailer that sells puppies in Montgomery County is Just Puppies in the Twinbrook Shopping Center. Just Puppies owns two outlets, one in Rockville and one in Towson, in Baltimore County. WTOP contacted the shop for comment. Both are closed on Mondays.
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