City to ban dog, cat sales at pet stores
City council will decide on Monday whether to approve a bylaw banning the sale of dogs and cats in retail stores.
Representatives of two animal rights organizations have appeared before council asking for a ban citing the growing number of unwanted dogs and cats in shelters and animals being raised by unqualified breeders.
At council's request, staff have prepared a bylaw and recommended it be given three readings on Monday. If that happens, public comment will be solicited over the next two weeks before it goes to a vote for final approval.
The report said New Westminster has three pet stores. Two of them don't sell live animals, while the other acts as an agent for the BC SPCA to adopt out rescued and abandoned cats, something that will be permitted under the new bylaw.
The current pet store bylaw prohibits the sale of rabbits.
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
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