Charity Announces West Hollywood City Council Considering Ordinance Banning Sale of Dogs and Cats in Pet Shops
Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), is the only national non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills. A recent undercover investigation discovered that a pet store who boasted Gov. Schwarzenegger and the Osbournes as clients, was lieing to it’s customers about where their puppies came from.
Following the CAPS undercover investigation of West Hollywood pet stores and a five and a half month protest of West Hollywood pet store Elite Animals, W. Hollywood City Council will be considering an ordinance that will prohibit the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops, with an exemption for the adoptions of shelter and rescue animals.
CAPS investigated Elite Animals and discovered that the store was selling puppy mill dogs and defrauding customers. CAPS obtained undercover footage of employees of the store telling CAPS investigators that their dogs were from “good, private breeders.” Elite Animals was also selling dogs from commercial breeding operations in Russia, outside the jurisdiction of the Animal Welfare Act. The W. Hollywood pet store was in violation of a federal law prohibiting the import of dogs under the age of six months for resale (Farm Bill of 2008).
CAPS investigators also obtained graphic footage of abused dogs from Elite Animals’ suppliers, Gerry and Angie Wensmann, who operate a substandard breeding facility in Minnesota. The puppy mill supplying Elite Animals in WEHO and other retailers around the nation has multiple violations reported by inspectors for the USDA. The dogs are exposed to the elements, caged in harsh and filthy conditions, are injured, sick, and show signs of severe psychological distress.
CAPS assisted the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the City of West Hollywood in drafting the ordinance as well as providing evidence.
“West Hollywood’s City Council has shown great leadership, wise judgment and compassion by considering an ordinance banning the sale of cats and dogs in our city’s pet stores. During this historic recession afflicting our state, we must relieve our overburdened shelters by promoting adoption as the only ethical choice when bringing a companion animal into our hearts and homes. This ordinance, if it passes, will save countless shelter animals’ lives locally and will send a strong message to abusive commercial breeders all over the nation.” –Carole Davis, W. Coast Director, CAPS
“This could be the beginning of the end of puppy mills and it’s happening in W. Hollywood, one of the most progressive cities on animal welfare issues.” –Ed Buck, Social Compassion in Legislation Director and West Hollywood resident.
For more information please visit www.caps-web.org
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If you really want to end puppy mill cruelty, you must attack the problem at the supply and the demand end. I wish I could close every inhumane puppy mill in the nation, but till then, I won’t allow them to sell their cruelty in my city, West Hollywood.
Why don’t you do the same. Go to your elected officials and educate them on the issue. Show them that it is politically safe to vote this kind of law in your town. Think globally – Act locally. Go do it.
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