With the passing of Assembly Bill 485 in California, all cats, dogs, and rabbits that are sold in retail stores within the state must come from shelters or rescue organizations starting on January 1, 2019. While there are various cities in the state which already have similar regulations, this is the first statewide bill to be passed.
While some people find it to be controversial to ban commercially bred animals from pet stores, when you become aware of the number of animals in shelters who are euthanized each year, and the terrible conditions that so many animals live in while being used as breeders in puppy mills, it’s no surprise that people within the animal rights community are so happy.
Euthanasia in Shelters
Below are nationwide animal shelter statistics from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA):
- 6.5 million companion animals end up in animal shelters annually
- Over 3 million animals are adopted from shelters per year
- About 670,000 dogs are euthanized in shelters each year
- Approximately 860,000 cats are euthanized in shelters every year
Realizing Shelter Animals are Fantastic
There are a lot of people who are hesitant to get their pet from a shelter. Let’s take a look at some reasons:
Some people think that shelters are sad and don’t think they will be able to bring themselves to go to one. While it’s true that a shelter can be noisy and a bit overwhelming for some, think about the animal that lives there all day every day for months on end. Imagine how thankful that animal will be when you adopt it and bring it home with you and provide it with a comfortable bed and a yard to play in.
For others, they aren’t aware of what types of dogs are available and feel like only a breeder will have the “type” of dog they like. Most shelters have photos on their website of the animals that they have for adoption. Who knows, maybe while viewing these pictures, you’ll come across a dog that you find irresistible? Remember that shelters have animals that come in all shapes, colors, and sizes, and more than that, keep in mind your lifestyle and what kind of dog would be the best match, more than just what a dog looks like.
Finally, some believe that animals in shelters are there because there is something wrong with them. That just isn’t true! There are many reasons that a dog may be in a shelter, such as the death of an owner, a financial change in which a family can no longer afford a pet, the loss of a home or living situation, etc. As you can see, these issues are certainly no fault of the animal, and in many situations, owners may be very sad to surrender their pet.
Life for a Puppy Mill Dog
For dogs in puppy mills, living conditions are typically very poor. Lots dogs are confined in small, dirty cages, usually stacked high so waste falls onto dogs in lower cages. Veterinary care is minimal, therefore there are illnesses and medical issues that are not attended to. Many female dogs are turned into shelters after breeding a number of litters when they are considered to no longer be useful. Overall, it is a very sad existence for these animals.
Getting Shelter and Rescue Animals into Homes
Hopefully, with these animals being placed in the public eye at pet stores throughout the state, people will realize that animal shelters and rescues have all kinds of amazing dogs, cats, and rabbits. If you are thinking about adding a pet to your family, please consider adopting from your local shelter or contacting a rescue near you.
Below are a couple of dogs who are currently available for adoption at North Central Shelter in Los Angeles.
Sources:
https://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics
https://www.aspca.org/barred-from-love/puppy-mills-101/hallmarks-cruel-breeding
Rescue All Dogs 