Lexington, Ky. (WTVQ) — The Kentucky division of the Humane Society hopes to get help from the city and the county to make it illegal to sell dogs and cats in pet stores.
“Places like flea markets and other outdoor venues,” said Todd Blevins, the Director for The Humane Society here in Kentucky. “We don’t want puppy mills to have an outlet in Lexington.”
Pet stores that sell dogs and cats, have been under scrutiny with allegations that they’re bought from puppy and kitten mills.
Blevins says, 99% of puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills.
“Because where stores that sell dogs are getting them from, we know from public record and research, is from puppy mills in the Midwest.”
Last month, Bevins worked to get an ordinance passed in Louisville that bans the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores.
Now he wants the same in Lexington.
“We’re excited that urban county council is considering an ordinance. It helps crack down on the puppy mill pipeline.”
Blevins says animals that come from puppy and kitten mills live in some of the worst conditions.
Many people not realizing they’ve been sold a sick animal.
“When they have taken them home, they have been sick shortly after taking them home and unfortunately in a lot of cases the animal has died,” said Blevins.
“I think most Lexingtonians understand that this is reasonable thing to do. We don’t people being sold sick dogs…”
But Blevins is also ready to go beyond Lexington, also speaking with the Fayette Urban County Council, Lexington Fayette Animal Control, along with the Lexington Humane Society.
Adding that many still choose it as a place to get their new pet.
“I want to be clear about one thing, the vast majority of pet stores here in Lexington are not selling dogs and cats. Most of them are getting adoptable animals from shelter and rescues out to the community.”
Blevins hopes to see action on the ordinance in the next couple of months.
And if it’s passed he says there will be time given to these pet stores to adjust.
Also, if you have purchased an animal from a pet store that immediately was sick the Humane Society wants you to report it by submitting a puppy buyer complaint form.
That can be found on the humane society’s website.
