California
Considers New Pet Store Standards
Legislation mandating new animal care standards for California
pet stores moved a step closer to passage in April after winning
approval from the Assembly Business and Professions Committee.
The version of Assembly Bill 2862 approved in April included
several new amendments.
However, a number of the bill’s provisions remain “objectionable”
and could effectively put pet stores out of business, according
to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Washington).
The bill, which applies to “retail outlets where the
animals are intended as companion or household animals,”
was amended to:
- Require removal of animals from primary enclosures only
if “steam, pressurized water, or any chemical solution
is used in cleaning.”
- Strike language that would have barred the sale of reptiles
or amphibians native to California.
- Exempt “rodents intended as food for reptiles”
from a provision prohibiting the sale of any animal under
8 weeks of age, or any unweaned animal.
Despite the amendments, numerous concerns remain, said PIJAC.
Among them:
- The prohibition against causing any animal “discomfort,”
because there is no objective basis for determining whether
an animal experiences discomfort.
- A ban against the sale of any pet animal under 8 weeks of
age, because the broad restriction does not take into account
the biological needs of individual species.
- The requirement to maintain all intact, sexually mature
mammals “in a manner [so as] to prevent reproduction,
unless the animals are intentionally bred,” because
it means all small animals must be segregated by sex.
- A requirement that animals have a “form of enrichment
appropriate” to the animal, because no standard is defined
for determining whether the form of enrichment is appropriate.
- A minimum space standard for birds such as to permit “each
bird to obtain exercise to maintain itself in good health,”
because no standard is defined for determining how much space
is necessary for a bird “to maintain itself in good
health.”
The bill also would set minimum space requirements for various
other species, including requirements based upon standards
developed for long-term housing of animals as opposed to pet
store housing, said PIJAC.
Additionally, many other specific standards proposed in the
far-reaching legislation are impractical or inconsistent with
appropriate animal welfare standards, the trade organization
said.
At press time, Assembly Bill 2862 awaited a hearing in the
Assembly Appropriations Committee. [June 2006 PET AGE]
|
