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Study: Pet Owners Prefer Tougher Breeder Standards Over Pet-Sale Bans

Pet Age Staff//July 29, 2014//

Study: Pet Owners Prefer Tougher Breeder Standards Over Pet-Sale Bans

Pet Age Staff //July 29, 2014//

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Dog and cat owners think the best way to crack down on illegal puppy mills is to enact and enforce tougher breeder standards, according to a recent study.

The Pet Leadership Council, a coalition of pet industry leaders championing responsible pet ownership, commissioned Harris Poll to conduct an online survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older to determine Americans views on puppy mill regulations.

It showed that 67 percent of the respondents favored tougher breeder standards, compared to 33 percent who supported banning the sale of dogs and cats at local pet stores.

“We all want to see puppy mills eliminated today,” said Bob Vetere, CEO of the American Pet Products Association, one of the founding members of the PLC. “But America’s pet lovers have made it clear that banning the sale of dogs and cats at local pet stores is not the best way to do it. What this poll tells us is that pet owners want tougher breeder standards so that they can be confident that dogs and cats are raised humanely and in the best interests of the animal.”

The Pet Leadership Council  is lending its support to efforts to enact tougher breeder standards with more rigorous enforcement. At the same time, the PLC is taking a lead role in a lawsuit that challenges a pet-store ban in Phoenix.

According to the poll, 89 percent of U.S. adults say the solution to puppy mills is to have tougher breeder standards that crack down on illegal operator, while 81 percent of  U.S. adults say banning dog sales entirely at pet stores will not stop puppy mills from continuing

In addition, 92 percent of U.S. adults report follow-up visits to breeders are needed to ensure regulations are being followed to avoid puppy mills, according to the poll.

“Puppy mills are an unacceptable problem,” said Ken Oh, chairman of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council and PLC member. “But pet-store bans like the one in Phoenix and more than 50 other communities across the country should be an unacceptable solution.”