I would like to comment on last week’s Star News article about National City Puppy. The article mentions a recent National City council meeting regarding closing loopholes in a new state law forbidding pet shops from selling any dog, cat, or rabbit that hadnt been aquired from an approved rescue orginazation. The name of this bill is AB485, signed into law by former California Governor Jerry Brown.
The new law went into affect on January 1, 2019. It is considered an example of landmark animal protection legislation nationwide. Humane groups say it treats animals as “ pets, not products”.
I visited a National City pet store about a month ago. Inside, pups were kept in plexiglass cages. I asked the saleslady the price of one puppy and was told $1,700.
Now, the average ‘ fee’ or ‘ donation’ for a rescue animal in San Diego county is about $250-$300. I asked where the pups come from and was told Missouri and a town in Northern California.
This raised a red flag. San Diego county has many fine non- profit rescue groups offering dogs and cats of every type and breed—all spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and micro- chipped. Why does a store in National City need to go to Missouri for pups?
National City Puppy owner David Salinas argues that these laws restrict people’s choices, but anyone can find any breed at local shelters and through the many specialty breed rescue groups.
What needs to be considered here is the hundreds of thousands of dollars it costs taxpayers to house and care for our county and states homeless pets. Let’s please remember that compassionate people have devoted unlimited personal time and rescources to find homes for thousands of homeless dogs and cats.
Pet overpopulation is a heartbreaking national crisis and anyone who really loves animals would support their communities efforts to stop local pet stores from importing dogs from breeding farms, no matter how “reputable.’
Vivian Marlene Dunbar resides in Chula Vista.
