From the Chicago Tribune: In a close 5-4 vote, the Naperville City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday prohibiting the sale of commercially bred dogs and cats in Naperville pet stores beginning in 2021. The decision, years in the making, came after dozens of people publicly urged the council to enact the measure that will prevent dogs produced by puppy mills and disreputable sellers from being available for purchase in Naperville pet stores. Many those supporting the ban donned yellow “Go humane” shirts at Tuesday night’s meeting, and some shared stories of sick dogs bought from pet stores and cited the pet stores as bad for consumers because they charge high interest financing rates. The ordinance that will take effect Jan. 1, 2021, allows pet stores to sell only dogs and cats sourced from humane and rescue groups. Council members Theresa Sullivan, Patty Gustin, Judy Brodhead, Paul Hinterlong and Patrick @venessavenetia voted in favor of prohibiting the sale of dogs from commercial breeders. Council members Benny White, @speedwriting Coyne, John Krummen and Mayor Steve Chirico voted “no. ” Gustin said she believed the decision centered on Naperville’s values. “Who are we as a community? We are community that cares for animals and the people of our community, ” Gustin said. Sullivan said she had “no reservations, none whatsoever” about supporting the prohibition. But Chirico questioned whether the ordinance will have any real effect on stopping irresponsible breeders. “I’m not seeing the connection here, ” he said. The council considered other alternatives before the vote, including stricter standards for pet stores that sell animals obtained from commercial breeders. The owner of Petland Naperville and others opposed to the ban said it will lead to the closure of two Naperville pet stores and would limit consumer choice when it comes to buying dogs. Naperville resident Dianne Arp said the issue of “puppy mill dogs” often presents a “knowledge gap. ” “A ban will not close pet stores selling puppy mill dogs, ” Arp said. There are pet stores in Naperville that do not make money off the sales of commercially bred dogs and do well, she said. The issue of whether Naperville should adopt more stringent rules has been under discussion since 2014. The council initially tightened the rules governing how animals are sold in stores but until Tuesday stopped short of an outright ban on the sale of commercially bred dogs.
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