Anti-Puppy-Selling Petition Called 'Laughable'

An online petition denouncing San Clemente's recent has drawn bewilderment from two city officials.

Desperate Paws of Orange County Dog Club has nearly 1,000 signatures on an online petition urging the San Clemente City Council to outlaw retail dog sales, which it claims supports inhumane puppy mills.

But San Clemente doesn't have any pet shops that sell puppies.

"Why are we putting into place a ban on pet shops, when we currently have no pet shops and have never had any pet shops in San Clemente?" City Councilman Tim Brown asked in an email to petitioners. "It is laughable that you allege we 'voted to keep and support' the pet shop industry in San Clemente -- by [not] putting into place a ceremonial ban that would have zero effect now and well into the future. In fact, we have a long history of supporting our local shelter and I feel taking a very humane stance on any pet-related issue whenever it has been presented."

On April 17, San Clemente voted 4-1 against a ban, citing a variety of concerns, including free market issues. Similar bans have been proposed or adopted in other Orange County cities.

Brandi Terry, who founded Desperate Paws with her husband, Stephen Terry, said almost any pet store that sells puppies likely obtains them from abusive animal breeding factories.

"We support reputable breeders," Terry said. "No reputable breeder is going to sell their dog to a pet shop." In contrast, pet shop puppies are produced by animals that spend their lives in cages, she said. They "are mass-produced, they're a commodity."

Brown and Councilman Jim Evert responded to the petitioners by email, pointing out San Clemente has always supported the local animal shelter and has no pet stores that would be affected by a ban.

But Terry said it's important to enact the ban because other cities have done likewise.

"Our whole point is San Clemente doesn't have a pet shop yet," she said. "But it's a possibility. It leaves it open for pet shops who are run out of town, so to speak, to go to cities who don't have bans."