We’re seeing a bit of forward progress, where some cities at least are taking steps to ban the sale of dogs and cats in stores. It’s an important step that we need to see expanded into every region of the country. Pets should not be sold in stores, under the same process people might use to buy a TV or tablet device.

Adopting a pet should require an application process, to better ensure the person has thought through the decision and to offer some degree of assurance that the person will take care of the animal.

The very important ban in San Diego is being challenged. Thankfully, a judge ruled last week that the ban can remain in place until a court case reaches a conclusion.

In July, the City of San Diego banned the “retail sale dogs, cats and rabbits that came from for-profit animal breeders,” as reported by the Mission Times Courier.

The Associated Press reports the Phoenix City Council voted this week to ban stores from selling dogs and cats.

The risk that puppies and kittens sold in stores were bred in puppy mills is far too great.

I am a bit perplexed by the wording I’ve seen in some news stories, where it is suggested that with the bans, store can still “sell” homeless pets offered through rescue groups. The Associated Press article includes the following sentence:

The ordinance approved Wednesday bans shops from selling dogs or cats unless they’re rescues from a shelter or pound.

Those stores would still be able to offer adoptions of dogs, cats and rabbits in partnership with a shelter or rescue group akin to what Petco does.