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Home My WebLink AboutHandouts_Workshop_Tab Cit_08/14/2014 PIJAC PET INDUSTRY JOINT �� :"i/isoR`! GG`lil�iC�� 1146 19` Street, N.W., Suite 350 � ! Washington, DC 20036 Tel: 2021152-1525 �,:�,- Fax: 202-452-1516 TESTIMONY OF THE PET INDUSTRY JOINT ADVISORY COUNCIL c�:,; & ceo BEFORE THE TEQUESTA, FLORIDA VILLAGE COUNCIL Ken on W F Young, Inc., East Longmeadow, MA REGARDING PROPOSED ORDINANCE 17-14 FlRST ViCE-CrA �s�:.,��: "BREEDING AND SALE OF DOGS AND CATS" IN TEQUESTA, FLORIDA �eff sutnedand Animal Supply Company, Federal Way, WA August 13, 2014 sa��x� v�ce �HSa;z�r.�.�: Greg Cyr Central Garden and Pet, Walnut Creek, CA The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) appreciates the opportunity to offer the s�� - ; �� a �� Tequesta Village Council our views regarding the proposed ordinance relating to Andy Ponte United Pet Group, Cincinnati, OH "breeding and sale of dogs and cats" in Tequesta. As the country's largest pet trade association, representing the interests of all segments of the pet industry throughout the '"'` Ryan Boyle United States, PIJAC counts among its members national associations, organizations, The Hunte Corporation, Goodman nno corporations and individuals involved in the commercial pet trade. More specifically Tom Edling PIJAC represents the interests of pet stores, distributors, pet supply manufacturers, Petco Animai Suppiies, San Diego, CA breeders, retail�rs and pet owners throughout the state of Florida and across the United B�ce Flantzer MiracleCorp Inc., Dayton, OH States. Chris Fleming Pinnacie Pet, Neosho, MO Let me begin by saying that no one cares more about healthy and safe pets than do Rolf Hagen PI1AC and our members. Our association has long been recognized as the voice for a Rolf C. Hagen Inc., Baie D'urfe, Quebec responsible pet trade, and we routinely advocate legislative and regulatory proposals John Mack, Reptiles By Mack establishing governmental mandates where appropriate to advance the public interest and Xenia, OH the welfare of pets. PIJAC works closely with USDA to ensure effective enforcement of Michael Peterson The Pet Group, Carlsbad, CA the federal Animal Welfare Act, and has since its inception. We regularly work with federal and st�te a encies as well as local overnments to advance animal welfare Laura "Peach Reid g g Fish Mart Inc., West Haven, CT interests. Jim Seidewand Pet Worid, Inc., Rochester, NY Even as we have worked to raise standards of care, PIJAC has battled misconceptions Joe Watson about the qualiTy of pet store animals and the sources of sueh animals. The Petland Inc., Chiliicothe, OH unsubstantiated assertion that pet store animals generally come from substandard Marcie Whichard Petco Animal Supplies Inc., San Diego, CA breeding facilities is commonly used as a smoke screen to obscure the fact that the overwhelming majority of pet owners who choose to purchase from pet stores bring �`��S�c�AT�or� ,��n_s_x-�-:�✓ss Jim Boschee (WPA) home a happy, healthy pet and remain highly satisfied with their pet store experience. caiabasas, ca, Cedric Damby (PIDA) The reality is that almost all pet store puppies originate from USDA licensed breeders PFX Pet Supply, LLC, W. Sacramento ca who are regularly inspected and found to comply with appropriate care standards. By Sandra Moore (FTFFA) Segrest Farms, Gibsonton, FL contrast, many of the dogs and cats from other sources, including rogue Internet operators, private sales, shelters and rescues, did not come from licensed breeders. Ke� on �APPA> W F Young, Inc., East Longmeadow, MA G`.=.4�- �: What purpose does this proposed ban serve? It doesn't protect consumers, as there are James Heim currently no stores who sell dogs and cats within the city limits. That being said, it Walnut Creek, CA should be noted that customers already enjoy far more protection in the law for the Frank Koch animals they get from pet stores than from any other source. They would merely be Pacoima, CA de rived of lookin to a et store as one of several alternatives for ac uirin a et and in Allan Levey p g p q g p� New York City, NY the process lose statutory protections that they currently enjoy. It doesn't protect the Alexandre Perrinelle animals themselves. As already noted, pet store puppies are as healthy as any others and Los Angeles, CA typically receive more frequent veterinary care than puppies from other SOUT'CeS. Elywn Segrest Additionally, consumers who buy their animals from pet stores enjoy extra protections in Gibsonton, FL the event the animal purchased is sick or diseased. As well-intentioned as this proposal may be, the approach the ardinance takes is unsupported by all available facts. Further, a retail pet sales ban indiscriminately targets responsible pet stores, while exempting others who need not even comply with the standards under which pet stores already operate. Thus, in considering a village-wide retail pet sale ban, the Council risks enacting a law that will not only fail to stop the bad actors who operate substandard breeding operations, but will actually exacerbate the very problem a retail sales prohibition seeks to address. Banning the sale of dogs and cats by pet stores that are subject to strict regulation and sourcing transparency will only drive prospective pet owners to unscrupulous sellers of pets who are not licensed and are unconcerned about compliance with animal care standards. Animals delivered to pet stores in Florida are tughly regulated: • In the sta.te of their birth • In the state of their distributor • By the federal government • By Florida when the anima.ls enter the sta.te � A,nd animal eruelty is a criminal offense everywhere Some make the claim that prohibiting the sale of commercially bred dogs and cats in pet stores will lead to more adoptions of shelter animals. No independently developed data. supports this claim. PIJAC knows that animal control facilities and non-profits are often excellent sources for pets for some prospective pet owners, though not for everyone. Many shelter animals are relinquished because of socialization or health issues. Adoption may not be an appropriate option for fannilies looking for a certain breed of animal for health considerations. There are varied reasons why families choose the animals they do. They should have a choice and not be denied the pet that best fits their family's requirements. Furthermore, Florida has strict pet warranty laws. People who purchase pets from pet stores in the state have ample opportunity to recover under alternative remedies if they purchase an unfit animal from a pet store. In obviating this consumer protection provided under sta.te law, the proposal adversely impacts potential small businesses and pet owners alike within Tequesta. Only pet stores provide this warranty — shelters and rescue groups do not offer a warranty. We would also ca11 your attention to the comments made by the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association in opposition to a similar ordinance that passed last month in Chicago: "The Chicago Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) strongly believes that ongoing education is a much more effective method to increase pet owner awareness and bring about the desired positive change necessary to address valid concerns regarding unethical, unscrupulous breeders who are the ultimate problem." Their statement cites the several more stringent protections offered to consumers who buy from pet stores as a primary reason for their opposition. It should also be noted that just last month, a judge granted a preliminary injunction against the ban ordinance passed by the city of Phoenix, which was cited as a precedent in your ordinance's language. In granting this injunetion, the court found that the city's ordinance would be likely to cause "irreparable harm" to pet store owners within the city. Until this legal challenge to the Phoenix ordinance is seen through to its conclusion, it would be irresponsible of the Village Council to pass a materially similar ordinance that could subject the village to a similar legal challenge. Hyperbole and emotionalism are poor substitutes for rational evaluation of objective information in estabiishing public policy. PIJAC recognizes that a few substandard facilities supplying pet stores do exist, as do substandard breeders providing dogs directly to the public and, in fact, substandard shelters as well. And, our efforts to ensure humane standards of care are met in a11 of these facilities will continue. However, singling out pet stores for specious generalizations based on anecdotal evidence will NOT eliminate the existence of substandard conditions. While this may be a"feel good" approach it only diverts attention away from efforts to really accomplish effective solutions and we urge the Council not to move forward with any proposed ordinance that targets pet stores in this way. PIJAC is highly sympathetic to the concerns motivating this proposed ordinance, but an outright ban on retail pet sales is unjustified, harmful to the future of the local economy and ultimately will fail to better protect pets. We respectfully urge the Council to reject the ban and not impose excessive restrictions on a11 pet owners by preventing legitimate local businesses that would be committed to the health, safety and well-being of the animals they could provide to Tequesta families. If the purpose of this proposal is to encourage tighter restrictions on the sources of animals coming into jurisdictions that DO have e�sting pet stores, PIJAC would welcome the opporhanity to .work with #he Council to raise the bar to ensure proper animal sourcing that protects dogs and cats. For instance, common sense solutions would require: • Animals come from only USDA licensed sources • Breeders sourcing animals in any future Tequesta. pet stores shall not ha.ve an entry on their last USDA inspection report that directly impacts animal health (these records are searchable online) — these inspection reports could travel with the animal and be made available to the customer We would welcome the opportunity to work with Tequesta to arrive at a meaningful solution to the publie policy concerns related to the care of animals. By working together, we can make sure that Tequesta's citizens continue to have access to healthy animals to love as pets now and in the future. Thank you for your consideration of our views. Respectfully submitted, Mike Bober Vice President, Government Affairs Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council