ORD NO. 2017-16 BANNING THE SALE OF DOGS & CATS BRED & RAISED AT PUPPY OR KITTEN MILLSDear Kol (Bainbridge Island City Councilmember),
I appreciate your reaching out to us. As you are aware, Kitsap Humane Society is by far the largest
animal welfare organization in Kitsap County. Also, as the designated Animal Control authority for all of
Kitsap County, including Bainbridge Island and the other incorporated cities within the county, we also
are the entity that has legal responsibility for enforcing local animal ordinances and for taking in stray
domestic animals. So, this gives us some deep perspective on the plight of homeless pets.
We very much appreciate the Bainbridge City Council's interest and initiative around the issue of puppy
mills, and we support the Council's desire to develop an ordinance to ban the sale of dogs and cats bred
and raised in puppy mills. Last year, we were involved in a similar effort, working closely with advocates
and the Kitsap County Commissioner's office to try to develop a similar ban for all of Kitsap County.
At the national level, shelters take in millions of homeless pets every year, and there are many parts of
the country where more than 50% of the pets brought into shelters are euthanized, due to local
overpopulation and the lack of adequate resources to care for and adopt all those pets out.
In Kitsap County, we also work with a large homeless pet population. In 2016, 3,008 stray animals were
either picked up by our animal control officers or brought into the Kitsap Humane Society shelter by
concerned citizens. Another 1,398 pets were surrendered by their owners. Fortunately, we have great
support from our community in in the form of volunteers, adopters and donors, and we operate a highly
progressive shelter. Because of these factors, we effectively saved the lives of 96% of the animals
entering our shelter, with a euthanasia rate of under 3%. Over the years, we also have effectively
reduced the number of stray animals over time with our aggressive spay/neuter efforts. We currently
spay/neuter over 5,000 animals yearly, which helps to reduce the reproduction and overpopulation of
pets.
Despite this progress, homeless and abandoned pets remain a big issue locally, regionally and
nationally. Finding homes for over 4,000 local homeless pets, and another 2,000+ pets that we bring in
from other shelters (due to overpopulation in their areas) requires a great devotion of resources and
community effort. The breeding and selling of animals via puppy mills needlessly adds to the
overpopulation locally and nationally. If puppy mills went out of existence, and all prospective adopters
were to adopt homeless pets from animals shelters like ours, we would greatly reduce the homeless pet
population in our country, save millions of lives, and reduce the devastating high euthanasia rates that
occur in some shelters nationally and regionally.
All of that said, we have little ability to track data locally on the impact of puppy mills. One might
surmise that the health and behavioral issues in the animals bred in those facilities causes more pet
owners to later abandon their pets or fail to look for their lost pets. But when we find a lost or
abandoned pet, including those with serious medical and/or behavioral conditions, we generally do not
have any indication of whether that pet originally came from a puppy mill.
What we do know is that because hundreds of pets are adopted locally from stores who get their supply
of pets from puppy mills, it requires more resources and more time in our shelter for those animals who
otherwise could have been adopted more quickly (assuming the people who bought their pets from
places like Farmland would come and help rescue a pet from us instead). Certainly, Bainbridge's
proposed ordinance could help raise awareness of this issue, and strengthen Kitsap Humane Society's
ability and speed with which we could adopt out the more than 4,000 homeless pets that we take in
locally each year.
Please let us know if there are other things we can do, including testifying, to aide this cause.
Sincerely,
Eric
Eric Stevens
Kitsap Humane Society | Executive Director
9167 Dickey Road NW | Silverdale, WA 98383
e: executivedirector@kitsap-humane.org
p: (360) 692-6977 x1115
Page 1 of 5
Jurisdictions with Retail Pet Sale Bans
There are 230 jurisdictions on this list.
Source: http://bestfriends.org/resources/jurisdictions-retail-pet-sale-bans
Albuquerque, NM – Enacted June 2006; effective August 2007
South Lake Tahoe, CA – Enacted April 2009; effective May 2011 (Chapter 32, Sec. 32-31.1)
Flagler Beach, FL – Enacted June 2009; effective immediately (Chapter 5, Sec. 5-17-f)
West Hollywood, CA – Enacted February 2010; effective March 2010
Hermosa Beach, CA – Enacted March 2010; effective April 2010
Turlock, CA – Enacted May 2010; effective June 2010
El Paso, TX – Enacted October 2010; effective January 2011
Richmond, British Columbia (Canada) – Enacted November 2010; effective April 2011 (*Bylaw 7538,
Amendment 8663)
Austin, TX – Enacted December 2010; effective December 2010
Lake Worth, FL – Enacted February 2011; effective February 2011 (Chapter 6, Section 6-8)
Fountain, CO – Enacted May 2011; effective May 2011 (Ordinance 1535, adds Sec. 6.04.100)
Coral Gables, FL (applies to dogs only) (Chapter 10, Article 11, Sec. 10-33)
Opa-Locka, FL (applies to dogs only) (Chapter 5, Article 2, Division 2, Sec. 5-35)
North Bay Village, FL (applies to dogs only) (Chapter 91, Sec. 91-11)
Glendale, CA – Enacted August 2011; effective August 2012
Toronto, Ontario (Canada) – Enacted September 2011, effective September 2012
Irvine, CA – Enacted October 2011; effective immediately (Sec. 4-5-1111)
Rosemont-La Petite Patrie, Quebec (Canada) – Enacted December 2011; effective immediately
Dana Point, CA – Enacted February 2012; effective immediately (Title 10, Chapter 10.10.140)
Chula Vista, CA – Enacted March 2012; effective April 2012 (Title 6, Sec. 6.08.108)
Hallandale Beach, FL – Enacted April 2012; effective immediately
Laguna Beach, CA – Enacted May 2012; effective immediately (Title 6, Chapter 6.12.160)
Point Pleasant, NJ – Enacted May 2012; effective immediately
Aliso Viejo, CA – Enacted May 16, 2012; effective immediately (Title 6, Chapter 6.02.120)
Huntington Beach, CA – Enacted June 2012; effective June 2014 (Chapter 7.12.180)
Waukegan, IL – Enacted June 2012; effective immediately
Mississauga, Ontario (Canada) – Enacted July 2012; effective January 2013 (Section 2.1.Q)
Brick, NJ – Enacted July 2012; effective immediately
Manasquan, NJ – Enacted September 2012; effective immediately
Los Angeles, CA – Enacted October 2012; effective June 2013 (revised language)
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ – Enacted October 2012; effective immediately
New Westminster, British Columbia (Canada) – Enacted November 2012; effective immediately
Burbank, CA – Enacted February 2013; effective August 2013
Rancho Mirage, CA – Enacted February 2013; effective March 2013
Bernalillo County, NM (unincorporated areas) – Enacted February 2013; effective August 2013
Hoboken, NJ – Enacted May 2013; effective immediately
San Diego, CA – Enacted July 2013; effective September 2013
Kingston, Ontario (Canada) – Enacted August 2013; effective November 2013
Oceanport, NJ – Enacted August 2013; effective immediately
Margate, FL – Enacted October 2013; effective immediately
Pinecrest, FL – Enacted October 2013; effective immediately
Page 2 of 5
North Brunswick, NJ – Enacted October 2013; effective November 2013 (cat ordinance)
Palmetto Bay, FL – Enacted December 2013; effective immediately
Ventura County, CA (unincorporated areas) – Enacted December 2013; effective December 2014
(Section 4428)
Coconut Creek, FL – Enacted January 2014; effective immediately
Wellington, FL – Enacted January 2014; effective immediately
Surfside, FL – Enacted February 2014; effective immediately
Aventura, FL – Enacted March 2014; effective immediately
Chicago, IL – Enacted March 2014; effective March 2015
Wilton Manors, FL – Enacted March 2014; effective immediately
Greenacres, FL – Enacted April 2014; effective immediately
North Lauderdale, FL – Enacted April 2014; effective immediately
Cook County, IL – Enacted April 2014; effective October 2014
Bay Harbor Islands, FL – Enacted April 2014; effective immediately
Vaughan, Ontario (Canada) – Enacted April 2014; effective immediately
Pompano Beach, FL – Enacted May 2104; effective immediately
North Miami Beach, FL – Enacted May 2014; effective immediately
Miami Beach, FL – Enacted May 2014; effective January 2015
Bal Harbour, FL – Enacted May 2014; effective immediately
Sunny Isles Beach, FL – Enacted May 2014; effective immediately
East Providence, RI – Enacted June 2014; effective immediately
Dania Beach, FL – Enacted June 2014; effective immediately
Palm Beach Gardens, FL – Enacted July 2014; effective immediately
Juno Beach, FL – Enacted July 2014; effective immediately
Cutler Bay, FL – Enacted August 2014; effective immediately
North Palm Beach, FL – Enacted August 2014; effective immediately
Randolph, NJ – Enacted September 2014; effective immediately
Hypoluxo, FL – Enacted September 2014; effective immediately
Hudson, Quebec (Canada) – Enacted September 2014; effective immediately
Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) – Enacted September 2014; effective January 2015
Jupiter, FL - Enacted October 2014; effective immediately
Homestead, FL – Enacted October 2014; effective immediately
Chino Hills, CA – Enacted October 2014; effective November 2014
Tamarac, FL – Enacted December 2014; effective immediately
Palm Beach, FL – Enacted January 2015; effective immediately
Oceanside, CA – Enacted January 2015; effective September 2015
Montgomery County, MD – Enacted March 2015; effective June 2015
Long Beach, CA – Enacted March 2015; effective October 2015
Garden Grove, CA – Enacted March 2015; effective March 2016
North Miami, FL – Enacted April 2015; effective immediately
Lauderhill, FL – Enacted April 2015; effective immediately
Mount Royal, Quebec (Canada) – Enacted May 2015; effective immediately
Encinitas, CA – Enacted July 2015; effective immediately
Fernandina Beach, FL – Enacted July 2015; effective immediately
Jacksonville Beach, FL – Enacted August 2015; effective immediately
Beverly Hills, CA – Enacted August 2015; effective September 2015
Eastpointe, MI – Enacted September 2015; effective January 2016
Camden County, NJ – Enacted September 2015; effective immediately
Page 3 of 5
Vista, CA – Enacted September 2015; effective October 2015
Memphis, MI – Enacted September 2015; effective immediately
Salt Lake County, UT (unincorporated areas) – Enacted October 2015; effective immediately
Voorhees, NJ – Enacted October 2015; effective immediately
Brooklawn, NJ – Enacted October 2015; effective immediately
Audubon, NJ – Enacted October 2015; effective immediately
Palm Springs, CA – Enacted October 2015; effective immediately
Waterford, NJ – Enacted October 2015; effective January 2016
Deerfield Beach, FL – Enacted November 2015; effective May 2016
West Melbourne, FL – Enacted November 2015; effective immediately
Cherry Hill, NJ – Enacted November 2015; effective immediately
Casselberry, FL – Enacted November 2015; effective immediately
Merchantville, NJ – Enacted November 2015; effective immediately
Runnemede, NJ – Enacted December 2015; effective March 2016
Pittsburgh, PA – Enacted December 2015; effective June 2016
Somerdale, NJ – Enacted December 2015; effective March 2016
Laurel Springs, NJ – Enacted December 2015; effective March 2016
Oaklyn, NJ – Enacted December 2015; effective immediately
Westville, NJ – Enacted December 2015; effective March 2016
Fraser, MI – Enacted December 2015; effective immediately
Haddon Heights, NJ – Enacted December 2015; effective March 2016
Gloucester Township, NJ – Enacted December 2015; effective January 2016
Glassboro, NJ – Enacted December 2015; effective March 2016
Beaconsfield, Quebec (Canada) – Enacted December 2015; effective immediately
Magnolia, NJ – Enacted December 2015; effective March 2016
Neptune Beach, FL – Enacted January 2016; effective February 2016
Las Vegas, NV – Enacted January 2016; effective January 2018
San Marcos, CA – Enacted January 2016; effective February 2016
Sarasota County, FL – Enacted January 2016; effective January 2017
Bellmawr, NJ – Enacted January 2016; effective immediately
South Miami, FL – Enacted January 2016; effective immediately
Cathedral City, CA – Enacted January 2016; effective February 2016
Warrenville, IL – Enacted February 2016; effective immediately
Truckee, CA – Enacted February 2016; effective immediately
Berlin Township, NJ – Enacted February 2016; effective May 2016
Mamaroneck Village, NY – Enacted February 2016; effective immediately
Boston, MA – Enacted March 2016; effective immediately
Delray Beach, FL – Enacted March 2016; effective immediately
Clementon, NJ – Enacted March 2016; effective June 2016
Pine Hill, NJ – Enacted March 2016; effective immediately
Haddon Township, NJ – Enacted March 2016; effective immediately
Winslow, NJ – Enacted March 2016; effective immediately
Jackson, NJ – Enacted March 2016; effective immediately
Mount Pleasant, NY – Enacted March 2016; effective immediately
Collingswood, NJ – Enacted April 2016; effective immediately
Audubon Park, NJ – Enacted April 2016; effective immediately
Indio, CA – Enacted April 2016; effective immediately
La Quinta, CA - Enacted April 2016; effective May 2016
Page 4 of 5
Mount Ephraim, NJ – Enacted April 2016; effective immediately
Barrington, NJ – Enacted April 2016; effective immediately
Philadelphia, PA – Enacted April 2016; effective July 2016
Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) – Enacted April 2016; effective immediately
Berlin Borough, NJ – Enacted April 2016; effective immediately
East Brunswick, NJ – Enacted April 2016; effective May 2016
Gloucester City, NJ – Enacted April 2016; effective July 2016
Carlsbad, CA – Enacted May 2016; effective June 2016
Chesilhurst, NJ – Enacted May 2016; effective August 2016
Greenwich, NJ – Enacted May 2016; effective June 2016
Pennsauken, NJ – Enacted May 2016; effective June 2016
Mesquite, NV – Enacted May 2016; effective June 2016
Clayton, NJ – Enacted May 2016; effective August 2016
Hollywood, FL – Enacted June 2016; effective December 2016
Colton, CA – Enacted June 2016; effective July 2016
Beverly, NJ – Enacted May 2016; effective immediately
Mantua, NJ – Enacted May 2016; effective immediately
Gibbsboro, NJ – Enacted June 2016; effective September 2016
Little Ferry, NJ – Enacted June 2016; effective September 2016
Wyckoff, NJ – Enacted June 2016; effective immediately
Washington Township (Gloucester County), NJ – Enacted June 2016; effective July 2016
Lindenwold, NJ – Enacted June 2016; effective immediately
Hackensack, NJ – Enacted June 2016; effective September 2016
Bordentown, NJ – Enacted June 2016; effective immediately
Hi-Nella, NJ – Enacted June 2016; effective September 2016
Mount Holly, NJ – Enacted July 2016; effective October 2016
Pitman, NJ – Enacted July 2016; effective October 2016
Camden City, NJ – Enacted July 2016; effective August 2016
Maywood, NJ – Enacted July 2016; effective immediately
Solana Beach, CA – Enacted July 2016; effective immediately
East Rutherford, NJ – Enacted July 2016; effective October 2016
St. Petersburg, FL – Enacted July 2016; effective immediately
Union City, NJ – Enacted July 2016; effective immediately
Glen Rock, NJ – Enacted July 2016; effective October 2016
Woodlynne, NJ – Enacted July 2016; effective October 2016
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – Enacted August 2016; effective immediately
Saddle Brook, NJ – Enacted August 2016; effective November 2016
Washington Township (Burlington County), NJ – Enacted August 2016; effective immediately
Key West, FL – Enacted August 2016; effective immediately
Miramar, FL – Enacted August 2016; effective immediately
Rye Brook, NY – Enacted August 2016; effective immediately
Upper Saddle River, NJ – Enacted September 2016; effective immediately
Portland, ME – Enacted September 2016; effective immediately
Eatontown, NJ – Enacted September 2016; effective December 2016
Swedesboro, NJ – Enacted September 2016; effective December 2016
Ridgefield, NJ – Enacted September 2016; effective December 2016
Fanwood, NJ – Enacted September 2016; effective immediately
Fairview, NJ – Enacted September 2016; effective December 2016
Page 5 of 5
Wallington, NJ – Enacted September 2016; effective immediately
Yorktown, NY – Enacted July 2016; effective immediately
New Milford, NJ – Enacted September 2016; effective immediately
Palm Beach County, FL – Enacted September 2016; effective November 2016 (applies only to new pet
stores as of 10-1-16)
Hamilton, NJ – Enacted September 2016; effective October 2016
Oakville, Ontario (Canada) – Enacted November 2015; effective immediately
Ridgewood, NJ – Enacted October 2016; effective November 2016
Edgewater, NJ – Enacted October 2016; effective January 2016
Woodbury Heights, NJ – Enacted October 2016; effective immediately
Cambridge, Ontario (Canada) – Enacted October 2016; effective immediately
Marlboro, NJ – Enacted October 2016; effective January 2017
Fair Lawn, NJ – Enacted October 2016; effective immediately
Port Chester, NY – Enacted October 2016; effective immediately
Ocean, NJ – Enacted October 2016; effective November 2016
Safety Harbor, FL – Enacted November 2016; effective immediately
North Arlington, NJ – Enacted November 2016; effective immediately
Watchung, NJ – Enacted November 2016; effective immediately
Frenchtown, NJ – Enacted December 2016; effective March 2017
North Las Vegas, NV – Enacted December 2016; effective immediately
Palisades Park, NJ – Enacted December 2016; effective immediately
Union Beach, NJ – Enacted December 2016; effective immediately
Cliffside Park, NJ – Enacted December 2016; effective immediately
Stratford, NJ – Enacted February 2017; effective May 2017
San Francisco, CA – Enacted February 2017; effective March 2017.
Burlington, NJ – Enacted February 2017; effective March 2017
Bradley Beach, NJ – Enacted January 2017; effective immediately
Haddonfield, NJ – Enacted February 2017; effective March 2017
Bound Brook, NJ – Enacted February 2017; effective immediately
Livingston, NJ – Enacted March 2017; effective June 2017
Holmes Beach, FL – Enacted February 2017; effective immediately
Roseville, MN – Enacted March 2017; effective September 2017
Canton, GA – Enacted March 2017; effective immediately
Franklin, NJ – Enacted March 2017; effective June 2017
Manalapan, NJ – Enacted April 2017; effective immediately
Scotch Plains, NJ – Enacted April 2017; effective immediately
Lodi, NJ – Enacted April 2017; effective immediately
Secaucus, NJ – Enacted March 2017; effective immediately
East Newark, NJ – Enacted April 2017; effective July 2017
Stoneham, MA – Enacted May 2017; effective immediately
Roselle Park, NJ – Enacted May 2017; effective immediately