Changes could come to sale of cats and dogs in Ottawa

A city committee has taken a step towards ending the sale of cats and dogs from breeders in Ottawa pet stores.

After a passionate debate at City Hall on Monday, the committee recommended that local pet stores should have five years to transition to a new bylaw that bans the sale of cats and dogs from for-profit breeders.

In Ottawa, three of 16 pet stores sell cats and dogs from for-profit breeders, committee heard. The remaining 13 sell them through non-profit shelters, and rescue agencies.

City staff originally recommended that all pet stores sell animals from non-profit sources, with the exception of these three stores.

Instead, councilors voted 7-1 in favour of a motion to stop the sale of cats and dogs from for-profit breeders. This included a motion to allow a five year transition period for the three shops.

“The three existing businesses that are set up, they employ people, they are businesses in our community. So, I think it’s reasonable to give them an opportunity to transition if we’re going to change what the model should look like,” said Councilor Mark Taylor.

Bruce Roney from Ottawa Humane Society said it was not the ideal solution.

“I really don’t think it is good public policy waiting five years to do the right thing isn’t really acceptable, I don’t think,” said Roney.

Dozens of people showed up to speak at the meeting on Monday.

Eileen Woodside, founder of Puppymill Awareness Working Solutions, told the committee she was in favour of the ban.   

“There are better choices to be made other than buying pets from a pet store where there is no background known history and we believe they are unethical breeders,” Woodside said.

There owners of Little Critters pet shop, who sell from for-profit breeders, said the change could put them out of business.

“Rent structure in malls is very different from rent structure in strip malls, we pay probably four, five, six times as much rent, so we have to do a lot more business to be able to make a profit,” said Greenberg.

The recommendation will move forward to council in April.