New pet laws over animal sales in USA

[Maz]

Apparently the District of Columbia in the USA has prohibited pet stores selling any animals from 11th May this year. Unless "... the animal was obtained from the Animal Care and Control Agency, a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, a humane society shelter, or rescue group"

In other words they can only sell pets from rescue shelters or an official pet agency. This means they can't obtain them from dubious breeders. This seems to be a good thing as people will need to either adopt pets from rescues, or obtain them from a verified breeder. But - as the article mentions, the downside is, prospective owners may then get pets from breeders, not realising they are backyard breeders.

 

[Member ID2]

I think that's what's happening over here. People don't want to buy from pet shops because they don't want to support hamster mills but then go and buy from a backyard or hobby breeder encouraging more breeding while the rescues are full of hamsters needing forever homes.

 

[Maz]

It needs information out there doesn't it? If people see "breeder" they don't realise that anyone can call themselves a breeder, or that there are reputable breeders as part of an association with standards, and people who either don't know what they're doing with safe breeding, or doing it for monetary purposes (and could be backyard breeders as well). They probably think it's better than getting one from a pet shop. There are at least quite a lot of rodent rescue options now. So basically, breeding should be regulated.

 

[Frida]

Why doesn't the RSPCA do anything to stop hamster mills, backyard or hobby breeders?
If all breeders and pet shops were regulated surely that would help to stop the above.
I don't believe it can be completely stopped because there will always be a black market because money trumps animal welfare.

 

[Member ID2]

I don't think breeding will ever be regulated because it is not illegal to breed and sell hamsters.

I keep reporting breeders on animal welfare grounds for showing photos of newborn hamsters that should not be taken out of their nests. Problem is that it is not illegal and for some strange reason the Animal Welfare Act does not seem to apply.

Yes, it definitely needs more information out there so people can make an informed choice of where they want to get their hamster from.

 

[Member ID2]

Why doesn't the RSPCA do anything to stop hamster mills, backyard or hobby breeders?
If all breeders and pet shops were regulated surely that would help to stop the above.
I don't believe it can be completely stopped because there will always be a black market because money trumps animal welfare.

They can't even if they would want to because there is no law that prohibits the breeding of hamsters.

 

[Maz]

They do close down places if they find them.

 

[Member ID2]

They do close down places if they find them.

What kind of places?

 

[Maz]

Breeding farms. It's sometimes why they have a lot of hamsters to take in at times, but I believe they co ordinate with other rescues to take them these days.

 

[Member ID2]

I guess they are able to close them down because of the conditions the animals are kept in.

 

[Frida]

That does make sense because I've seen on the RSPCA etc where a hamster is up for adoption and the info says "came in as part of a large group and has not had any human contact etc".

 

[Maz]

I am maybe a bit cynical but it makes me think the pet shops will get round it some how by selling animals that they say are from rescues - and then it comes down to - what is determined as an actual rescue.

 

[Frida]

I am maybe a bit cynical but it makes me think the pet shops will get round it some how by selling animals that they say are from rescues - and then it comes down to - what is determined as an actual rescue.

Loopholes and interpretation.