Toronto Bans Pet Mills

On Wednesday, the Toronto City Council voted unanimously to require that puppies and kittens sold in pet stores and at flea markets come exclusively from shelters, humane societies, or rescue groups. The measure was put in place to help alleviate the cruelty inherent in puppy and kitten mills, industries that often house the animals in small wire cages, causing numerous health problems, and then slaughter the animals after they stop breeding efficiently. Councilor Glen De Baeremaeker tells the Toronto Sun, “For all intents and purposes we’ve shut the taps of the puppy mills at retail locations in Toronto. We won’t eliminate them … those evil people will continue, but there is a lot less demand for their product.” The Toronto ban follows that of Richmond, British Columbia, which was the first city in Canada to institute the measures.