Columbus has approved banning pet shops from selling cats, dogs and rabbits.
Columbus City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday to approve, on second reading, an ordinance that institutes the ban. Republican councilmen Frank Miller and Tim Shuffett voted against the ordinance. They also did so at the first reading of the ordinance in March.
The ordinance states that no pet shop “shall sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away or otherwise transfer or dispose of cats, rabbits, or dogs.”
Pet shops are allowed to collaborate with Animal Care Services or rescue groups and provide space for those groups to “showcase adoptable dogs, rabbits and cats,” according to the ordinance. However, the pet shop will not have any ownership interest in the animals offered and will not receive a fee for providing the space.
Animal Care Services general manager Nicohl Birdwell Goodin said that the ordinance is a suggested best practice and stated that 375 localities across the country have passed similar legislation.
The ordinance is meant to prevent harmful breeding operations such as puppy mills from coming into the area, as these groups are already present in other parts of the state, she said.
“Currently we don’t have anybody selling puppy mill pets, but it is a huge issue when those places come to town,” she said. “And actually, just in the last year, there has been movement from organizations that move into communities and then start selling those animals.”
Most local retailers already work with the city or other rescue groups to showcase adoptable animals. The only store whose operations would be affected is Rural King, which sells rabbits, she said.
Miller and Shuffett did not comment on the ordinance at Tuesday’s meeting. However, both men voiced their concerns during the city council’s previous discussion of the legislation.
At that time, Miller said that while he agreed that puppy mills should be shut down, he wasn’t sure the ordinance was the best way to achieve that goal. The ordinance somewhat restricts a retailer’s freedom as to how they run their business, he said.
He also cited a Humane Society document from 2019, which showed that most large and successful pet store chains focus on supplies and services rather than selling puppies and kittens. Miller said that this indicates that the marketplace is already “taking care of itself.”
He and Shuffett both said the ordinance will only affect local businesses, and pet stores and puppy mills could still exist in other communities. Miller said that the county and state would be better suited to handle the issue of puppy mills.
Shuffett said he received several emails about the ordinance from people on both sides. One of his main objections was the virtual format of the meeting, as he wanted more opportunity for public input on the ordinance, Shuffett said in March. He suggested tabling the matter until city council could have more of a public forum.
City buildings remain largely closed to the public, except for special circumstances such as appointments. City meetings are being held virtually, with most being conducted via WebEx and livestreamed on the city’s website.
Members of the public can submit comments and questions during city council meetings by emailing Mayor Jim Lienhoop. Prior to the council’s second vote on the ordinance, Lienhoop said he had received no questions.
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Under the approved ordinance, the Columbus municipal code now states that:
— No pet shop shall sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away or otherwise transfer or dispose of cats, rabbits, or dogs. Nothing in this section shall prohibit pet shops from collaborating with Animal Care Services or Rescue Groups to offer space for such entities to showcase adoptable dogs, rabbits and cats, provided the pet shop shall not have any ownership interest in the animals offered for adoption and shall not receive a fee for providing space for the adoption of any of these animals.
— A pet shop that violates this section shall be subject to a fine of $500. Each individual animal shall count as a violation of this section and is a separate fine per animal.
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