***UPDATE: The council has passed the proposal, with minor changes!! Refer to the details below, call or email to thank council !***
The city of Chicago recently passed a ban on pet stores selling dogs, cats and rabbits. While many heralded it as a positive for the future of the city and welfare of pets, some pet store owners have threatened to move their businesses to the nearby suburbs. Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey has taken preemptive action and proposed a county-wide ban similar to the one passed by Chicago.
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Denver, rescued from pet store |
Chicago joined the likes of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Austin, TX, San Diego and Los Angeles, CA, and Toronto, Canada in saying “No” to pet stores that promote inhumane breeding of pets by selling dogs, cats, and rabbits. These stores universally obtain their animals from puppy mill-type breeders. Pet store owners insist their puppies come from “reputable breeders” – but make no mistake, NO REPUTABLE BREEDER WOULD SELL THEIR PUPPIES IN A STORE.
While the Chicago ban doesn’t take effect until next March, suburban citizens have already voiced concerns about the affected stores transplanting their businesses to the suburbs. A county-wide ban would prevent this, as well as increase the adoption rate of homeless pets in rescues and shelters. This is seen by many as a win-win situation.
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Commissioner John Fritchey Photo Source |
Cook County is the second largest county in our nation. Enacting a ban on the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores would be a major step toward taking away the need for puppy mills. WE WANT THIS BAN PASSED! Commissioner Fritchey’s proposal is titled the Cook County Companion Animal & Consumer Protection Ordinance, and there will be a vote this Wednesday, April 9th.
YOU CAN HELP!
Ida McCarthy and Dianne Arp, Chicago Coordinators of Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), have kindly provided us with the details below and suggest the following:
Call or email the Cook County Council members and thank them for proposing the ordinance to ban the sale of cats, dogs and rabbits in pet stores. Let them know you support their proposal!
(UPDATE: The proposal was passed, details here)
Toni Preckwinkle…
Office Phone: 312-603-6400
District #1
Earlean Collins
Email: earlean.collins@cookcountyil.gov
Main Office Phone: 312-603-4566
District Office Phone: 773-626-2184
District #2
Robert Steele
Email: r.steele@robertsteele.org
Main Office Phone: 312-603-3019
District Office Phone: 773-722-0140
District #3
Jerry Butler
Email: jerry.butler@cookcountyil.gov
Main Office Phone: 312-603-6391
District #4
Stanley Moore
Email: stanley@commissionermoore.com
Main Office Phone: 312-603-2065
District Office Phone: 773-783-2412
District #5
Deborah Sims
Email: deborah.sims@cookcountyil.gov
Main Office Phone: 312-603 6381
District #6
Joan Patricia Murphy
Email: joan.murphy@cookcountyil.gov
Main Office Phone: 312-603-4216
District Office Phone: 708-389-2125
District #7
Jesus G. Garcia
Email: jesus.garcia@cookcountyil.gov
Main Office Phone: 312-603-5443
District Office Phone: 773-376-2700
District #8
Edwin Reyes
Email: edwin.reyes@cookcountyil.gov
Main Office Phone: 312-603-6386
District Office Phone: 773-588-1129
District #9
Peter N. Silvestri
Email: cookcty9@aol.com
Main Office Phone: 312-603-4393
District Office Phone: 773-444-0346
District #10
Bridget Gainer
Email: commissioner@bridgetgainer.com
Main Office Phone: 312-603-4210
District Office Phone: 773-561-1010
District #11
John P. Daley
Email: john.daley@cookcountyil.gov
Main Office Phone: 312-603-4400
Facebook Page: John P. Daley
District #12
John A. Fritchey
Email: commish@fritchey.com
Main Office Phone: 312-603-6380
District Office Phone: 773-871-4000
District #13
Larry Suffredin
Email: larry.suffredin@cookcountyil.gov
Main Office Phone: 312-603-6383
District #14
Gregg Goselin
Email: commissioner.goslin@cookcountyil.gov
Main Office Phone: 312-603-4932
District Office Phone: 847-729-9300
District #15
Tim O. Schneider
Email: tim.schneider@cookcountyil.gov
Main Office Phone: 312-603-6388
District Office Phone: 847-640-1632
District #16
Jeffrey R. Tobolski
Email: None
Main Office Phone: 312-603-6384
District Office Phone: 708-352-2301
District #17
Elizabeth Doody Gorman
Email: liz@lizgorman.com
Main Office Phone: 312-603-4215
District Office North Phone: 847-871-1717
District Office South Phone: 708-349-1336
Please show your support for this proposal. The animals that may benefit from this are counting on all of us!
It’s great that the city of Chicago passed that ban on pet stores, but sadly they find always a bolt hole for their business. I hope that all people who plan to get a dog or a cat or rabbit will avoid this kind of stores.
We wish that too…unfortunately, too many people don’t realize just how important, and for such terribly good reasons, they should avoid them!
I’ve been following this fairly closely from Canada – following all cities who do, actually, since we’re still working on Calgary to pass an official bylaw prohibiting the retail sale of dogs and cats. You’re a step ahead, but we’re happy to see it pass anywhere and everywhere!
Pet store sales may be a small dent in puppy mills and online sales, but they’re a very visible one that can get people thinking about where that dog comes from.