U.S. court upholds law forcing Phoenix pet stores to sell rescue animals

Homeless cats and dogs in Phoenix, Arizona, now have a better shot at finding a forever home, thanks to a U.S. court that’s upheld a law forcing pet stores in the city to strictly sell rescue animals.

Pet stores across Arizona’s largest city are now forbidden from carrying dogs and cats from commercial breeders. It’s an attempt to crack down on puppy mills and tackle the high number of stray animals and euthanasia rates in shelters.

More than 7,400 dogs and 900 cats were euthanized in a year at the taxpayer-funded Maricopa County Animal Care and Control.

Phoenix City Council passed the original decision in late 2013. In July 2014, Frank and Vicki Mineo, owners of Puppies ‘N Love, filed a federal suit against the city, arguing that the ruling violated state and federal commerce laws, which would force them out of business. They are the only pet store in Phoenix that exclusively sells animals from regulated breeders, reports The Arizona Republic.

U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell upheld the decision.

“Our family built this business over four decades, working with ethical breeders, developing personal relationships with those men and women whose animals we proudly sell in Phoenix,” Frank Mineo told the paper. “I’m disappointed in the judge’s ruling.”

Phoenix City councillor Thelda Williams told the paper she’s been flooded with emails from overjoyed citizens and rescue organizations.

“This means more protection for puppy lovers and the puppies themselves. We have so many dogs in Arizona that need homes; we don’t need to import them.”

Phoenix now joins 59 other American cities that implement a similar policy to increase rescue adoptions.

It’s a happy tails ending, indeed. The decision coincides with the recently published Dr. Seuss book “What pet should I get?”, which was written in the late 1950s or early 1960s, before overbreeding was a hot button issue. In a note from the publisher, readers are encouraged to adopt from a rescue shelter or organization, instead of a pet store.