In a unanimous vote, the Austin City Council adopted an ordinance today which will ban retail pet sales within the city limits. Austin’s Animal Advisory Commission proposed the ordinance in an effort to further the city’s no-kill plan approved last March. Pursuant to the new ordinance, breeders must obtain registration documents in order to sell animals off-site. Additionally, puppies and kittens must be spayed or neutered prior to sale or subject the breeder to a fee of $50 per animal. The ordinance will be enforced on a complaint basis and violators are subject to a $200 fine per violation. A copy of the draft ordinance is available here and a copy of the Recommendation for Council Action is available here. Animal shelters and non-profit organizations are exempt from the ban.
Many believe the new ordinance was aimed at pet stores such as Petland, the only retail pet store operating within the city limits at the time the ban was proposed. Although the Austin Petland has closed, there is still a location in nearby Georgetown.
Kudos, Austin. Hopefully, the rest of the Metro will soon follow your lead.
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