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Councilor would ban sale of largeish furry critters at Boston pet shops
By adamg on Sun, 02/21/2016 - 10:55pm
Jamaica Plain News reports that Councilor Matt O'Malley (Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury) plans to seek an ordinance that would prohibit pet stores in Boston from selling dogs, cats and rabbits.
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| Attachment | Size |
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 Proposed ordinance | 128.76 KB |
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Comments
Meanwhile, the BPS system can
Meanwhile, the BPS system can't provide textbooks to children.
As a taxpayer contributing to the BPS budget of
$1.03 Billion dollars please expand on your comments? Thanks.
Why? This is stupid, no
Why? This is stupid, no wonder he didn't become Council President!
Preventing pet stores from
Preventing pet stores from selling pets, sure sounds like a brilliant plan.
Clarification, please
It's not clear from the article whether the bill would prohibit the sale of just "puppy mill" animals or the sale of ALL dogs, cats and rabbits.
Not That Far Reaching
I can only think of, and readily find, one Pet Store in all of Boston that sells more than just fish, the one in Allston. Are there more than this? Or is this law most primarily aimed at individuals rather than stores, such as the examples provided of people selling on the street or craigslist?
In any case it is a good ordinance, especially when there are so many shelter animals already that could use a good home.
http://www.skiptonpetcenter.com/
http://www.skiptonpetcenter.com/
As Food Maybe
I thought all the other "pet stores" in Boston were just supplies only, and sometimes fish and such. Do they actually sell various mammals from that store other than feed mice?
They started carrying birds last year.
I want to say they have smaller animals, but don't really spend much time in there. I usually run in, grab what I need, pay for it and leave.
There is a Petco
in Lower Allston by the Shaw's where Kmart was torn down for the new apartment complex to go up. That Petco sells fish, small mammals, reptiles, and birds.
There's also a very nice Petsmart in Cambridge by Alewife and another Petco by Cambridgeside Galleria that I refuse to go to because it's filthy. Though both are outside of Boston's boundaries, they are T accessible.
Many years ago
Petco used to give space in their stores to local animal rescues to display some of the dogs and cats they had for adoption.
Sounds like an idea that may be worth considering again.
They still do have adoption
They still do have adoption days I believe. I've seen cat rescues and a dog rescue once.
Petsmart still has rescue pets
At least the two Petsmarts that I am familiar with have full-time adoption centers for cats. I would be surprised if they didn't do dogs also, but maybe those aren't every day.
People love animals but I feel sometimes our
priorities are skewed. It's easy to love animals and want what's best for them. Who can argue with that? As Ted Cruz supporter's will tell you, the Founders protected animals in the constitution because it says so in the Bible. As Bernie Sanders supporters will tell you pets have feelings and those feelings were hurt by big banks. Easy stuff. Even for the nutty.
Hard. The heroin, the violence killing 16years olds. We read about it and turn the page until we find something easy. This is a priority?
Councilors can work on more than one thing
Don't know whether or not this is a good thing (but, I admit, my first thought was about the impact on that place on Harvard Ave. that sells chinchillas), but just because he's filing this proposed ordinance doesn't mean it's the only thing he's working on.
Adam when I wake up to the news of another dead
16 year old this feel good stuff tends to frustrate me. Sorry.
So you vent your frustration ...
by telling lies about what "supporters of" candidates you feel are ridiculous will tell us. Seems like you could find some more meaningful and possibly more effective outlet.
Obviously my comments were effective
with you. Now get back to feeling the Bern.
If that's the kind of effect you want to achieve
by pretending concern for 16-year-old murder victims, you seem to have confessed to being a troll.
After you pull the condescension stick from your behind
look in the mirror
Irony
Condescension is your schtick. Your comments are full of it. Want to borrow a mirror?
Doesn't Matt O'Malley
have anything better to do?
Well
the sun is still pretty weak this time of year, so free sunscreen, his other main issue, is dormant right now.
But how will the affect
the long-term use of his dogie fountains?
Ironic from the commenter
Ironic from the commenter that complains about everything under the sun.
Sorry Rob
I'll try to be more upbeat when extolling the numerous virtues of the city council.
Some good things:
It's a more diverse council than it used to be.
I don't think they've committed any felonies.
I've never heard any of them use the word 'Beantown.
In all seriousness, I don't see much value to the council. They should have either more power or cost less money. The current situation just makes good intentioned people waste time and money with window-dressing.
Actually this is important.
Actually this is important. No store should be selling live animals. All you have to do is take some time and do the research on how horrible conditions are for these animals. Puppy mills are cruel unregulated places that then sell sick or dying animals to pet stores. These pet stores then continue the abuse of these animals and sell them to the public.
You are not "saving" an animal when you buy from a pet store. You are only continuing the cycle of abuse. I'd like to see him take a step further and get a state ban and then even more regulation on breeders. Then lets get a state wide animal cruelty data base up and running.
What is needed is the shut down of animals mills, pet stores and the like. We should not only be concerned with human lives; we should be concerned with animal welfare as well. Some of these comments tell me just what type of people you are.
Seriously just do the research. If you are ok with what happens to these living, breathing beings then there isn't much more I can say to you.
Yes! You understand!!
Yes! You understand!!
No one should be purchasing pets from these stores. Puppy mills need to be banned and these stores just are places for these mills to sell their wares. The backyard breeders thinking they can earn a quick buck by breeding their dogs or cats need to be licensed, inspected and monitored.
Anytime you have humans, money and animals in the same equation - animals lose.
I won't even look in the window of these stores. They are disgusting places that should be shut down.
Rescue, rescue, rescue.
Thank you for your post.
This is a public health issue, too!
It isn't uncommon for the pets that are being sold though pet shops to be sick, due to the conditions they are raised in. These animals can, in turn, infect other animals or even humans, depending on the illness.
Shelter animals are vetted and receive all their vaccinations and are not released to homes unless they are completely well or arrangements are made for ongoing veterinary care.
Adoption events...not sales please
The one pet store I go to for food and supplies is one I go to because it won't sell kittens, puppies, or bunnies. The ~do~ however host adoption events to try to match shelter animals with permanent homes.
While they do sell fish, birds and rodents (and occasionally ferrets) there doesn't seem to be a huge problem overall with large number of inbred and/or sick groups of these smaller animals.
Too many people are hung up on having that "purebred" pet. Mixed-breed pets are just as good, and often healthier than the purebreds because of the *lack* of inbreeding. I've only ever had one purebred cat in my life....and I adopted him from a shelter!
Calling it adoption
Is insulting to children who were adopted.
It is buying a pet, still just buying a pet, albeit from a more responsible seller, who provides a positive public service rather than being a nuisance.
I'm all behind buying your pets from shelters, or feral rescue organizations, but calling this adoption is wicked twee and insulting besides. If buying sounds too crude, just say you got it or took it in.
It's still adoption
And it's not insulting to adopted children. There is nothing about adoption that limits the concept to humans.
An adopted animal is an animal that, due to unfortunate circumstances, did not have a permanent home, and has found a new caretaker willing to take on the responsibilities to care for that animal. Just like a human.
When you look at it another way, a lot of (if not all) adopted children aren't adopted at all - they're bought. Someone pays a substantial fee to acquire that child. We won't even get into surrogate mothers.
Sure
You just go ahead and compare adopted children to animals from Petco. I won't.
So don't
As someone who has adopted both a child and pets, I found the two processes not that different. The child adoption had much more stringent background checks, with home visits and numerous interviews, and it cost a lot more money, but the pet rescue-adoption place also went to some lengths to assure a good home was being provided. It was definitely not just "buying a pet."
Cows
Are living, breathing beings too, let's not eat them. Trees are also living and breathing, let's not build houses out of them. Heck, plants are living and breathing, let's not eat them. Let's all just hold hands, stand in circle, sing and feast on those delicious, nutritious rays of sunshine.
Humans are carnivorous just
Humans are carnivorous just like many animals, so yes people eat cows.
To treat animals inhumanely, well I can't think of any legitimate excuse you could come up with other than just plain cruelty. Is that what you're getting at? You're a cruel person?
Humans do, in fact, mostly
Humans do, in fact, mostly eat cows that were raised inhumanely and unsustainably. Well, other humans, anyway.
That is true for many.
That is true for many.
I do not and have not for decades now.
But, your point brings up the Humane treatment of Farm Animals bill that I believe is a ballot question this fall?
Seems like a no brainer to me. Of course food producers scream higher costs, but when it comes to living things its still a no brainer.
What about Roche Bros?
Can I still buy the lobsters from the live tank?
Only If You Also Buy Butter
Otherwise you might be buying a pet.
Really
So how is the care of a pet store different then home? These animals are played with, fed, watered , and cleaned on a daily basis. Which is the same thing you do at home with your pet. To generalize and say pets stores should all be closed is crazy. And dont get me started on "adoption" thats bs it is buying a pet. Shelters charge upwards of $500-$800 to "adopt" a puppy but older animals are cheaper? Rescues are just a business like everywhere else the only difference is pet shops are regulated and have restrictions where these organizations do not and can charge what they want or even put an animal down because they can not find a home for it. Do your research! Stop blaming pet stores for over crowded shelters. Pitbulls are the most common dog found in shelters but yet in mass it is illegal to sell them in pet stores. So how can u blame pet stores for the overcrowding. There are good and bad stores just like everyother business in this world. There is good and bad STOP BLAMMING PET SHOPS especially shops that are knowledgeable and provide more care for their animals than shelters do!
from the article
So yes - it is specifically geared towards preventing the sale of puppy mill dogs and kitty mill cats. That's well worth supporting, imo. Adopt, don't shop! If you insist on a purebred, go through a reputable breeder and do lots of research.
Purebreds from rescues, too
Purebred animals don't always work out with the families that buy them. There are many breed-specific rescues that can match you with an animal needing a home. You can also let a reputable breeder know that you are willing to take a "returned" animal or or one that doesn't meet show standards.
I'm on a couple of pure breed
I'm on a couple of pure breed groups. Show retiree's are also other options of adoptions. A good breeder will take a dog back - stay away from anyone who doesn't. I do plan on another pure bred, but will be very picky from where he comes.
I've had dogs my whole life and always wanted a dog with papers. I finally got one, my pure bred cost me thousands in medical bills and $200 a month on medications for about 7 years. He was a wonderful dog with a great personality, a top family member, but poorly bred. My current rescue mutt that I got when she was 2 months (3.5 yrs ago), has never been sick and has never even gotten a tick while running through the woods and grasses. Her checkup a couple of weeks ago, the vet even commented on how healthy she is. The rest of her litter mates died of parvo. This girl won't eat the healthy food and would live on junk dog food if I let her. We found a food that satisfied us both after many attempts. She may outlive me.
I do believe by insisting on pure breeds, we're interfering with natural evolution, which is why mutts tend to be healthier.
yes!
Lots of greyhound rescue groups out there, and I'm glad to know that good breeders will take back purebreds after they've retired. In my experience, mutts do tend to be happier and healthier, but all dogs need homes! Good on you for giving them a happy one.
OK, I'm confused - what is he really proposing?
Here's the first paragraph from a Globe article:
The way I read that is they could sell furry creatures, just not from a certain type of breeder. As an animal lover, I am all for the good intentions of this bill. However, I'm curious how the law would actually be worded. What's a commercial breeder? Any breeder is actually a commercial breeder.
Later on in the Globe article:
Exactly. Again, how is the law going to be worded?
All I see right now is a whole lot of vague. Again, I love the intentions of the bill, I'm just wondering how it will be written.
With all due respect
Jim Gentile and his employees are good people (I used to buy aquarium supplies there), but their pet shop is antiquated and unclean, and the animals are kept in dirty and cramped quarters.
I'm sure no harm is meant as he's had the shop for so long, but in the past 40 years, the standards for pet shops and animal care have changed rapidly, and The Pet Shop has not adapted to those new standards in the slightest.
Read the Ordinance
A quick google search will bring you to the proposed ordinance on the MSPCA site (bottom of page).
https://www.mspca.org/animal_protection/city-of-boston-puppy-mill-ordina...
I've attached a copy of his proposed regulation to the post
Pet stores could still sell dogs, cats and rabbits, but only if they get them from shelters or similar facilities.
Outbreak
Apparently O'Malley saw it on Amazon Prime over the weekend and decided preventing a pandemic was priority number one.
Yes ! Rabbits finally get
Yes ! Rabbits finally get their long deserved comeuppance.
J P District council seat
matt how about a law a term limit law ?