West Hollywood Bans Retail Sales of Dogs and Cats

West Hollywood city council has unanimously passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale of dogs and cats in companion animal stores. "This ordinance represents an important step toward ridding our nation of the cruelty of puppy mills and other commercial assembly-line animal breeders," Councilman Jeffrey Prang said in a statement. By instead encouraging adoption from shelters and rescues, West Hollywood hopes to lower the humanitarian and financial burden that the millions of homeless pets have on society each year. The ordinance will go in to effect March 19.

In 2003, West Hollywood was the first community in the country to ban declawing cats, often seen as a cruel and unnecessary practice.

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