Ban the Sale of Dogs in Pet Stores in British Columbia

Have you ever walked into a pet store and wondered: How long has that puppy been stuck behind that glass window? Or where did it come from? And what happened to the others in its litter? And then maybe come to the realization that behind that glass, is a fully sentient being that most of us could/would even consider a family member?

Although most of us are not aware that in Canada dogs are actually considered property by law, we all seem to partake in the bizarre yet normative custom, in which dogs are acquired by purchase and then immediately embraced into the family fold. Our infatuation with this new, animated toy-like creature quickly overshadows any contemplations of its origin. Yet, in most cases, these animals are the products of the unmonitored cycle that is the pet industry - an industry that thrives on the continuous breeding of female dogs and the sale of their offspring.

What laws protect these ‘working moms’ and the babies in this industry? All dog owners and hence all breeders, fall under hard laws such as the Canadian federal criminal code sections 444, 445 and 445.1. However, these laws only focus on injury, pain and suffering of animals and do not specifically address the quality of life of the dogs caught within this cycle, nor standardizations for breeding dogs. Other hard regulations include provincial legislations. In British Columbia, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act outlines the obligations of individuals responsible for animals. Although this Act addresses animal welfare with regards to standards of care and distress, it is not designed to protect dogs whose sole purpose may be for its owner to turn a profit.  As such there is no law that standardizes the breeding or selling of these animals. This means that females can be bred on a continuous basis, while living unsocialized within kennels their entire lives and their puppies separated from them at any age. Also, since dogs are considered property, any surplus or puppies that have outgrown their ‘sellable’ age, can be euthanized at the owners/breeders request. Furthermore, given that the pet industry is one in which supply always outweighs demand, animal shelters are continuously burdened by its surplus.

Although today’s commercial pet industry is predominantly online, some municipalities have taken powerful steps to curb its reach in their immediate surroundings. In April of 2011, Richmond was the first Canadian jurisdictions to ban the sale of puppies in pet stores. Toronto followed suit in September of that year, and banned pet store sale of dogs and cats unless they're from shelters. Ultimately the goal of these laws was to reduce the number of pets that will be bought from commercial sources.

In other parts of the world, dog breeding and welfare legislations have been improved by other measures than just the implementation of by-laws. Instead, dogs under the European Union are finally regarded as more than just objects for purchase. Animals under the Lisbon Treaty of 2009 are no longer property, but are now referred to as sentient beings, therefore under the law, are able to feel pain and suffering. Other groups, such as the Eurogroup for Animals, are also calling for stronger breeding laws.

It is evident that Canada’s guidelines, codes and laws for canine breeders have still a relatively long way to mature before attaining humane standards that emanate and resemble standards we generally expect for our family members. Ultimately, family members should be adopted not purchased, yet with the economic benefits that accompany such enterprises, profiteering breeders will strive to maintain this industry by exerting their legal rights to press production. Although it is up to the individual to be aware and make an informed choice when considering to include another sentient being as part of their family, public objections could force politics and laws to reflect this growing consciousness.

Please sign this petition and ask our Premier Christy Clark to ban the sale of dogs in pet stores unless they are from a provincially approved animal shelter.