Palm Springs bans pet stores selling non-shelter dogs and cats

Palm Springs is saying no to retail pet stores.

The Palm Springs City Council voted unanimously to ban any store selling non-shelter dogs and cats from opening its doors in the city.

Katie Burd was one of many who stood in support of a ban on pet stores selling non-shelter cats and dogs.

“I asked the Council, I said ‘Why would any city leader want to sell puppy mill puppies in a town where we have 1,000 cats and dogs?'” Burd said.

Currently there are no stores selling dogs and cats in the city, but there is one in Palm Desert.

When the Palm Springs Animal Shelter got word a pet store wanted to open their doors in the city, they knew they had to do something.

“More times than not these animals that are coming into the stores are from puppy mills and kitten factories. And these are real and the suffering is real that they’re enduring and we need to put a stop to that and support our shelter adoptions,” said Dr. Shayda Ahkami, the director of shelter veterinary services.

Around 80 cities across the country have similar ordinances, including Rancho Mirage.

The ordinance makes an exception to stores selling shelter dogs and cats.

Burd hopes this ordinance helps the thousands of animals in the city find homes, but also stops bringing more animals into the city.

“We have more dogs and cats just piling into our cities, we can’t keep up with the tide. It’s just too much,” Burd said.

Burd said everyone at Wednesday’s Council meeting seemed in favor of the ordinance.

Others we spoke with agreed.

“They should not allow pet mills coming into Riverside Country, the Coachella Valley or anywhere for that matter,” said pet owner Oliver Lackyard.

Burd said with all the loving shelter animals right here in the valley, everyone should adopt and not shop.