L.A. Moves to Ban Sale of Animals in Stores

Los Angeles City Council made the initial steps on Tuesday to ban the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in retail stores in an 11-1 vote.

The vote will now request the City Attorney’s office to draft an ordinance that bans the sale of pets that are not from shelters, humane societies, or registered rescue organizations.

If approved, the ordinance would go into effect after six months and would be on a temporary three-year trial period.

Los Angeles joins many cities in Orange County that have created and passed similar ordinances in an attempt to reduce pet homelessness, promote adoption from animal shelters and prevent possible abuse and neglect of cats and dogs.

City Councilman Paul Koretz also proposed that the Animal Services Department conduct a report on how the proposed ban would affect kill rates at city shelters.