The County Council finds and declares that:
(a) A significant number of puppies and kittens sold at retail pet stores throughout the United States come from large-scale, commercial breeding facilities where the health and welfare of the animals are not adequately provided for (“puppy mills” and “kitten mills,” respectively). According to The Humane Society of the United States, it is estimated that 10,000 puppy mills produce more than 2,400,000 puppies a year in the United States and that most dogs and cats sold in retail pet stores come from puppy and kitten mills.
(b) The documented abuses endemic to puppy and kitten mills include over-breeding, inbreeding, minimal to non-existent veterinary care, lack of adequate and nutritious food, water or shelter, lack of socialization, lack of adequate space, and lack of adequate exercise.
(c) The inhumane conditions in puppy and kitten mill facilities lead to health and behavioral issues in the animals bred in those facilities. However, many consumers are unaware of these issues when purchasing animals from retail pet stores because of a lack of education on the issue and misleading tactics of retail pet stores in some cases. These health and behavioral issues, which may not present themselves until after the purchase of the animal, can impose exorbitant financial and emotional costs on consumers.
(d) Current Federal, State and County regulations do not properly address the sale of puppy and kitten mill dogs and cats in Montgomery County retail pet stores.
(e) Restricting the retail sale of puppies and kittens to only those that are sourced from shelters or rescue organizations is likely to decrease the demand for puppies and kittens bred in puppy and kitten mills, and is likely to increase demand for animals from animal shelters and rescue organizations.
(f) Due in large part to pet overpopulation, a state task force recently found that 45,000 dogs and cats are euthanized in Maryland animal shelters annually, at an estimated cost of $8 to 9 million each year. Restricting the retail sale of puppies and kittens to only those that are sourced from animal shelters and rescue organizations will likely reduce pet overpopulation and thus the burden on such agencies and financial costs on County taxpayers.
(g) Across the country, thousands of independent retail pet stores as well as large chains operate profitably with a business model focused on the sale of pet services and supplies and not on the sale of dogs and cats. Many of these shops collaborate with local animal shelters and rescue organizations to offer space and support for showcasing adoptable homeless pets on their premises.
(h) This law will not affect a consumer’s ability to obtain a dog or cat of his or her choice directly from a breed-specific rescue organization or a shelter, or from a hobby breeder where the consumer can see directly the conditions in which the dogs or cats are bred, or can confer directly with the hobby breeder concerning those conditions.
(i) The County Council believes it is in the best interests of the County to adopt reasonable regulations to reduce costs to the County and its residents, protect the citizens of the County who may purchase cats or dogs from a retail pet store or other business establishment, help prevent inhumane breeding conditions, promote community awareness of animal welfare, and foster a more humane environment in the County. (, § 1; 2020 L.M.C., ch. 18, §1.)
