Last year, Louisville became the third Kentucky city to halt the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores, and the idea has been floated in Lexington as well. But the ordinances have caught the eye of state lawmakers.
The result: A bill that would allow pet stores to sell dogs and cats from shelters and "qualified breeders," overruling cities opting for bans.
Elizabeth Kunzelman, vice president of legislative and public affairs for Petland, argued the bans are ineffective.
"These are being promoted and pushed to eliminate puppy mills, but not a single puppy mill closes because of a pet store ban. It does not solve a bad breeder problem," she said. "Instead they promote the use of underground pet store trading."
Louisville Councilwoman Marilyn Parker countered that her city's ordinance gave time to store owners to change their business models and provide contact information for the animal sellers — but, she said, opponents are putting up roadblocks. Parker said it's because they don't want to reveal how the animals are raised.
"They're produced in unsanitary conditions, backwoods places, under-vaccinated, sick, undernourished, and inbred," she said.
Yet the state bill reining in local control over the issue passed committee, as did a separate measure prohibiting audio, video, or drone operation above commercial animal facilities. Supporters say it amounts to interference. Opponents often refer to such bills as "ag gag" measures, meant to silence whistleblowers.
