Under the retail sales ban, pet stores would not be able to sell cats or dogs obtained through breeders, though people would still be able to adopt through shelters. The sale of reptiles, fish, and birds would not be affected by the new rule.
At this week’s council work session, a pair of pet stores objected to the changes, arguing they maintain high standards when buying from breeders. A speaker with Most Valuable Pets said passage of the ordinance would shut down the store.
"In our case, it will absolutely close our store because the sale of puppies and cats at MVP is 43% of our sales. So it will absolutely close the store that's been in existence for 32 years," she said.
But the new regulation appears on track for approval with councilmembers voting 13-1 to put the ordinance on the council agenda for this Thursday.
Vice Mayor Dan Wu, a former small business owner, acknowledged the effect the policy would have on pet stores, but said evidence of mistreatment through puppy mills and bad breeders will make him a yes vote.
"I'll be supporting this ordinance based on all the testimony that folks have given about animal welfare, about the conditions by which a lot of these animals come into being and continue to live. I'll be supporting this ordinance on the basis of our pet overpopulation problem here as well," the vice mayor said.
More than 80 animal welfare and related Kentucky groups are lining up behind the ordinance, which mirrors rules on the books in hundreds of other cities.
A final vote on the Lexington version is expected in June, according to the Herald Leader.
