A New Westminster-based animal rights organization is urging city council to ban the sale of animals in local pet stores.
Cheryl Rogers, president of the Pacific Volunteer Education and Assistance Team for Animals Society, appeared before council last week to ask the city to ban the sale of animals in pet stores.
"Most animals that come to pet stores come from poor conditions, regardless of the breed," she said.
Kathy Powelson, founder of the Paws for Hope Animal Foundation, appeared before city council in September to ask the city to amend its pet store bylaw to prohibit the sale of cats and dogs in retail stores, which would stop the needless suffering of these animals as many live in horrible conditions, she said.
Rogers said she has spoken to representatives from two of the three pet stores operating in the city and they told her they have no objection to the ban on animal sales. None of the pet stores operating in New Westminster currently sell animals.
"There are pet stores. They will allow animals to be brought in from rescues," Rogers noted. "All they are doing is providing a venue - they are not actually selling."
