Pet Umbrella Group Supports Ban of Dog and Cat Sales in Retail Outlets

(Markham, ON – August 10, 2010): Helping Homeless Pets announced support for Toronto City council candidate Dean Maher’s proposal to The Toronto Licensing and Standards Committee to ban the sale and/or giveaway of dogs/puppies and/or cats/kittens in Toronto pet shops, retail markets and market places.

Details: Pet rescue groups have been advocating for years for the removal of puppy and kitten sales from pet stores, as there are simply too many cases where purchases are made on impulse without proper research into the pet about to be brought home.  In addition, the best way to determine a puppy's health and temperament is to see the parents of the puppy, which is simply not possible in a pet store environment.

Anyone wanting to purchase a puppy should research the breed they are interested in and then find a responsible breeder where they can be sure the puppy has been bred and raised in a suitable and clean environment. They will also gain confidence that the breeder has the experience and knowledge to breed healthy animals. We need people to research the appropriate pet for their families, and not buy pets on impulse. Pets are for life, not until the novelty wears off.

There are hundreds of kittens/cats and puppies/dogs at shelters and rescues in need of a home, so adoption is another option which we hope people will consider when they want to add a pet to their home.  Dean Maher’s proposal also calls for an exemption from the ban to allow humane societies and rescues to continue to provide pet adoptions at Toronto pet stores or other events.

About Helping Homeless Pets:
Helping Homeless Pets is a non-profit organization created in November 2006 to help pets needing new homes, by directly supporting pet welfare groups. We currently have 34 member organizations, all working together to help homeless pets and to prevent future homeless pets. Sadly, pets can become homeless for a variety of reasons, including a change in relationship status, owner illness or death, moving house, behavioral issues, abuse, neglect or lack of financial resources. Rescue organizations help alleviate the immense strain on shelters by taking in animals which require special attention and those which do not adjust well to shelter conditions, or by accepting surrendered animals directly from the public.  Together we can make a difference!

For more information, please contact:

Rob Goddard, President

Helping Homeless Pets

Phone:   905-471-3811 x200
Email:   info@helpinghomelesspets.com
Website: www.helpinghomelesspets.com