Lawmakers in Montgomery County are considering banning pet stores from selling dogs or cats supplied by commercial breeders.
The bill would allow pet stores to sell dogs or cats only if they come from animal care facilities or nonprofit rescue organizations.
The bill is meant is to prevent the sale of animals from so-called "puppy mills,'' where dogs and cats are raised in conditions that some advocates describe as inhumane. The council's public safety committee will hold a hearing on the bill on Tuesday evening.
There are no pet stores in the county selling dogs or cats. Though there is one such store in the City of Rockville, this county law would not apply in the city. Council President George Leventhal, the bill's chief sponsor, said the bill is intended to prevent such sales in the county in the future.
