Prohibit Pet Stores to Sell Animals

I advocate for animals welfare, both foreign and domestic, wild and captive, and defender of the Earth.

I want to urge the State of Texas to adopt modern day laws to regulate pet stores and any entity in the pet trade commerce and if necessary, prohibit the sale of animals at pet stores in the  state.

The Animal Welfare Act of 1966 and subsequent amendments does not provide protection for animals.   The Act simply provides guides on how to handle animals in research. In subsequent amendments, provisions were included to  exclude certain animals. Language in at least one amendment specifies that the Act applies to only warm blooded animals, not reptiles.

Key points in the Act provide for specific protections and standards for entities dealing in animal commerce. However, in the State of Texas, there is a deficiency of even the most basic necessities for survival in animal welfare.

In the State of Texas, animals are expendable.

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   Food, Water, Sanitation:  In the State of Texas, pet stores do not need to provide the basic necessities of life for animals in the pet store industry.

   
   

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   Veterinary Care:  In the State of Texas, pet stores do not need to provide veterinary care to ensure healthy animals.

   
   

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   Unweaned Animals: In the State of Texas, pet stores are not prohibited from selling unweaned animals.

   
   

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   Lighting and Stress: In the State of Texas, pet stores do not need to provide adequate lighting for animals.

   
   

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   Housing: In the State of Texas, pet stores do not need to provide adequate housing for the animals.

   
   

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   Temperature and Ventilation: In the State of Texas, pet stores do need to provide livable conditions or proper ventilation for animals.

   
   

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   Lemon Laws: In the State of Texas, pet stores do not have to accept returned animals that are either sick or have health problems.

   
   

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   Licensing and Recordkeeping: In the State of Texas, pet stores are not licensed and not required to document their sources for animals.

   
   

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   Training: In the State of Texas, pet store owners and employees are not required to be trained in the proper care of animals.

   
   

In the State of Texas, all the above mentioned points are lacking.  There is no protection for animals in pet stores. In fact, in Texas, a pet store definition of an animal is “every living dumb creature.”1  It is an archaic mentality that needs to be changed. Animals are intelligent and some species even  exhibit reasoning skills.

I am petitioning the State of Texas to either license pet stores or just prohibit them from selling animals. If we do not, animals will continue to suffer.  

We don’t want to hear more horror stories, no more Petco or PetSmart. Petco and Petsmart should only be allowed to sell pet supplies.

Sincerely,

Lucio Ortega MLS

101 W Resaca Drive

Los Fresnos, Texas 78566

References:

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   State Pet Shop Laws: Texas

   
   

http://www.bornfreeusa.org/b4a1_petshoplaws_state.php?s=tx

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   Animals Frozen Alive, Crudely Gassed at Petco, PetSmart Supply Mill

   
   

http://investigations.peta.org/animals-gassed-frozen-petco-petsmart/

     3.  Reptiles Suffer, Left to Die at Another Massive PetSmart Supplier

http://investigations.peta.org/reptiles-suffer-petsmart/

     4.  Behind Closed Doors of a PetSmart Animal Supplier

Signaures from Puppy Mill Regulation Petition: To View copy and paste into your browser. 

http://www.petitions4287.com/2016/09/regulate-puppy-millsletterpetition.html