Pet stores without puppy mills

The L.A. City Council will vote soon on barring pet stores from selling dogs from large-scale breeders. It's the right thing to do.

The Los Angeles City Council is expected to vote within a month on an ordinance to ban pet stores from selling dogs (as well as cats and rabbits) obtained from any supplier other than a shelter or rescue group. Though we are usually reluctant to support government-imposed constraints on what businesses can buy or sell — and we would ordinarily prefer to see the issue dealt with by tougher regulation — in this case we think the ordinance is justified.

Most dogs sold at commercial pet stores across the country come from large-scale commercial breeders, many or most of which are so-called puppy mills that put profit over the well-being of their dogs, according to animal welfare advocates. Such facilities are legal and must be licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but studies show that many meet only the minimally allowable levels of care, housing, exercise, veterinary attention and record-keeping set by the federal Animal Welfare Act, if that. Some of the most egregious of these operations — where dogs are injured or found dead or conditions are highly unsanitary — are closed down or cited by authorities. But many bad operators continue to exist, overbreeding females in back-to-back heat cycles to the point that their bones break and their teeth fall out. Dogs and puppies alike end up crammed into filthy cages with little opportunity for exercise or socialization. Even the USDA urges breeders to exceed the law's standards.

What's more, the federal law is woefully under-enforced, according to a 2010 audit by the USDA's Office of Inspector General. Animal care inspectors failed to sanction appropriately, or quickly, breeders holding dogs variously infested with ticks or sores, suffering injured limbs, living in fetid cages, unsheltered from cold or hot weather, or using water and food dishes covered in vermin. During the three-year period of the audit, USDA officials made 8,289 inspections and found that 5,261 licensed dealers were in violation of the act. Since the audit, the USDA says the inspection program has been improved.

In the best of all worlds, federal and state laws governing breeding facilities would be overhauled to mandate better conditions for animals. But laws tightening up rules face powerful opposition from the pet industry and legislative allies of breeding businesses. Neither California nor Los Angeles, both of which have been early adopters of animal welfare laws and policies, have the ability to regulate out-of-state businesses.

Until better laws can be passed, the only way for a city to thwart these operations is to stop the flow of their animals into local pet stores. Most stores list the provenance of the animals for sale on cards attached to the kennels — but without actually visiting those breeding facilities, it's almost impossible to know what conditions are like there. Pet store industry representatives argue that some L.A. pet stores get their animals from small, relatively local breeders the retailers trust. Again, there's no way to know for sure what kind of breeding operation it is without visiting it — something that responsible breeders welcome and even request. Reputable breeders rarely sell to pet stores.

Los Angeles' measure is a drastic one, but it would expire in three years, giving officials an opportunity to monitor its effect and decide whether to extend the law, revise it or drop it altogether. If it passes, individuals would still be allowed to buy directly from breeders, and pet stores would be allowed to sell dogs, cats and rabbits that come from shelters, humane societies and registered rescue groups.

Each year the city's shelters euthanize thousands of cats and dogs that might have made wonderful pets. Best Friends Animal Society, a national organization, has already helped some conventional pet stores transition to a humane model and is offering the same assistance to any L.A. stores if the ordinance goes into effect.

Is It Finally Time to Give In and Get a Pet?

Isabella, 10, desperately wants a cat. For years she has been focused like a laser beam on this one goal, including it on every Christmas and birthday wish list, proposing bargains and sacrifices, volunteering at a cat shelter and swooning before every cat she meets.

But there was never a chance. Her father's "no" was based on his allergies and his belief that our children should pay all costs associated with pet ownership.

Then she fell in love with Kitty Kitty Kitty, a local grocery-store cat. The sight of Bella's smiles, with Kitty jumping on her lap and rubbing up against her face, softened John's stance. He began to imagine he could live with a cat, just keeping our bedroom door closed.

Maybe it's time to welcome an addition to our family. Maybe it's time for Bella to finally get what she has wanted for so many years.

***
There are all sorts of reasons for having a pet, and pet owners know them well. Pets can ease a child's loneliness and teach unconditional love. They help with important lessons about birth and death. They can also teach responsibility and empathy that will help children relate to other people in their lives.

John and I both fervently believe in all those positives. Where we part company is on the money.

John believes that kids learn these life lessons best if they're entirely responsible for the costs and care of the pets. When our girls were smaller, we underwrote a bunny and parakeets. But now that they're 10 to 15 years old and earning money from chores, John wants them to understand the true meaning of commitment and the impact a new dependent will make on your bottom line.

Last year Emily, 14, adopted a cockatiel, covering the fee and the cage with money from odd jobs. But Jasper costs her just pennies a day to feed; a cat is a much bigger-ticket item.

Bella was more than ready to hand over her entire $5 a week from chores forever, and tap her bank account, which has plenty to cover upfront costs and vet bills for the foreseeable future. But John didn't want her to spend savings on a pet. He thinks if she can't afford a pet on her cash flow, then it's not the right time to take one on.

I disagreed, saying the savings was her money, set aside for some unstated future purpose—why not spend it on something she'd been yearning for? On top of that, I consider it a parent's job to cover pet bills.

Most other parents I talked to feel the same way: They want the joy pets bring, while sheltering the children from adult-level concerns about finances.

My friend Michael's daughter found a guinea pig abandoned in Central Park. But, because of medical problems, the "free" animal ended up costing more than $1,000. Still, he says, the price was worth his daughter's happiness and the lesson it taught about loyalty, even at what he agrees is a "ridiculous" price.

And yet…I didn't push my point for a couple of reasons. First, because John is a stay-at-home dad, I feel like pets are his domain. Just as I tried not to mess up his masterful potty-training regimen and tried to respect John's preference that I not feed the girls junk food, I see the full-time parent as the pet policy maker.

Plus, the more I looked into it, the more I dreaded adding pet bills to our monthly financial reckoning. My sister in Los Angeles calculated that she spends $40 a month on each of her two cats, when food, litter, flea medicine and the annual vet bills are averaged in.

Then there are the potential catastrophic animal medical bills. Neither John nor I can imagine spending big money to save a pet's life in a medical crisis. But it's a position I would hate to be in: having to say no to spending thousands of dollars to save the life of an animal that my kids would no doubt love.

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In the end, we didn't get a cat. As much as we would love to have granted this long-standing wish, our fear of the potential costs was greater than my confidence that Bella (or I) could cover them. There are so many other financial priorities lining up for us this year.

As we discussed the possibility over several weeks, we found other good reasons—nonfinancial ones—to avoid becoming cat owners, such as the air conditioning we would lose if we closed off a room, another child's suspected cat allergy, and the possible conflict between a cat and Emily's bird.

I was sad for Bella. Both John and I were sorry we had raised her hopes, only to dash them. But I'm glad we had a chance to teach the girls that such decisions aren't lightly made, that you shouldn't take on a new dependent unless you can afford to care for it well, and that everyone in a house has to support the addition of a new member.

Bella says she's proud that she got closer than her older sisters ever did to getting a cat. She has promised me grandkitties one day when she has a home of her own. But she has moved on to her next project. She wants to adopt a bird by next year.

Demetria Gallegos is community editor for WSJ.com. Write to her at SundayJuggle@wsj.com. You can join the conversation at WSJ.com/Juggle.

Pet Adoption Corner: Belle

Meet Encinitas Patch's Pet of the Week, Belle, a gentle giant who is ready to be your couch buddy.

Name: Belle

Age: 5 years 8 months

Weight: 101 pounds

Gender: Female, spayed

Breed: "Blue" Great Dane

Belle is a big dog, with a big heart to match. This gentle giant will be happy lying next to your on the couch—and though she gets along well with other dogs, she seems to prefer people.

So, how does a sweet, Great Dane end up in an animal shelter? Her family moved into a place that doesn't allow pets. They're trusting Rancho Coastal Humane Society to find someone that will love Belle the rest of her life.

You can meet Belle in person at Rancho Coastal Humane Society, or see her photo on the website. (Yes. That's her real smile.) If you can't adopt her, maybe you can sponsor Belle until she is adopted.

Belle's $145 adoption fee includes medical exam, up to date vaccinations, spay, and her microchip identification.

To meet Belle log on to SDpets.org, call 760-753-64-13, or visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society at 389 Requeza Street in Encinitas. Kennels are open Wednesday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

About this column: Each week, Rancho Coastal Humane Society will feature a Pet of the Week up for adoption.