Key West Considers Retail Pet Sale Ban - National Humane Education Society

Paws Up!

To city commissioners of Key West, Florida, for considering a ban on the retail sale of puppies, kittens, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, and other rodents.

Puppy and other “mill” breeding operations are becoming increasingly well-known across the U.S. and more local communities are compelled to hit them right where it counts: in the wallet. Most large-scale puppy mills sell their “product” wholesale to retail pet stores. By shuttering pet stores, and preventing new outlets from opening, communities cut the flow of cash into inhumane breeding operations.

According a to a recent news article, the city commissioners of Key West, Florida, are considering an ordinance that would ban the retail sale of puppies and other animals. Key West is a small island on the southernmost tip of Florida, and is home to over 25,000 residents.

Take action: Residents of Key West, contact your commissioners and encourage them to pass an ordinance to ban retail pet sale. Residents of other locales, contact your commissioners or council members and urge them to consider a similar ordinance.

UPDATE: The ordinance passed unanimously and will change Key West’s municipal code to outlaw the retail sale of puppies and other pets!