BC SPCA applauds Surrey’s move to ban sale of dogs, cats, rabbits at pet stores

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SURREY (NEWS 1130) – Surrey is the latest Metro Vancouver city to ban the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits at pet stores.

Last night’s approval by city council, which affects more than 20 licensed retailers in Surrey, has been welcomed by the BC SPCA.

“From our standpoint, we see so many animals who are in this cycle of cruelty through puppy mills who sell to pet stores. So, this kind of decision, I think, is a real step forward for animal welfare,” says the BC SPCA’s Lorie Chortyk.

Other municipalities that have already restricted these types of sales include Vancouver, Richmond, New Westminster, and Delta.

“It may seem like an innocuous thing, to have these animals and everyone loves to see a cute puppy in a window. But I think many people, when they’re buying animals… they don’t know where those animals came from. They may be adding to the cycle of cruelty without even knowing it,” says Chortyk.

People will soon only be able to get a cat, dog or rabbit through an adoption from an approved shelter or rescue.

“The restriction also reduces the issues that can arise from impulse purchases of domestic animals. With so many cats and rabbits being abandoned and surrendered to shelters and rescues, this is the right move,” says Amy Morris with the BC SPCA.

Surrey’s ban on the sale of the animals in pet stores is slated to take effect June 1st.

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