Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Fort Worth city council bans roadside sale of animals

By Pegasus News wire

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FORT WORTH — The Fort Worth City Council voted Tuesday to prohibit the roadside sale of animals.

"In the past, sale of animals by unregulated vendors operating at roadsides or at other temporary outdoor venues has posed public health risks and nuisance issues," said Animal Control Manager Keane Menefee. "It has resulted in diseased animals being purchased with no mechanism for tracing the origin of the animal or notifying a person potentially exposed to the diseased animal."

Additionally, Animal Care and Control receives numerous complaints annually from customers who purchase an animal sold as a specific breed or pedigree and who have no way to contact the seller after learning that the information provided was not factual.

Also, traffic and other hazards posed by roadside vendors have been a concern.

The council's action makes it illegal to sell, exchange, trade, barter, lease, rent, give away or display for a commercial purpose any live animal on any roadside, public right of way, parkway, median, park, playground, swimming pool, other recreational area, flea market, or commercial or retail parking lot that is generally accessible to the public, regardless of whether such access is authorized. Exceptions are provided for animal rescue organizations, pet stores, and other scientific, educational and entertainment entities that display but don’t sell or give away animals.

Anyone violating the ban on roadside sales could face a fine as high as $2,000 for each offense. The ban will take effect once it is adopted and published by the City Secretary’s Office. For more information regarding the ban, call the Animal Care and Control Division at 817-392-3737.

Source: City of Fort Worth

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Comments

Clay213 Anonymous

"Additionally, Animal Care and Control receives numerous complaints annually from customers who purchase an animal sold as a specific breed or pedigree and who have no way to contact the seller after learning that the information provided was not factual."

Amazing.

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Pavel Lishin Verified

"You mean this raggedy dog I picked up on the side of the road for $20 isn't actually a very rare Royal Blue Persian Sheep Dog whose puppies would be worth thousands?"

"Correct, except that's actually a goat."

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

chretienne Anonymous

We need more laws like this. The worst thing about roadside pet sales is that it promotes the impulse purchasing of pets. Animals are the last thing that should ever be bought on impulse. How many of these pets go to homes and families that aren't prepared for them, and how many of them are never properly cared for?

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Erin Rice Staff

I'm curious what the FW council means by "pet stores" as an exception. The Petsmarts and Petcos of the world seem fairly legit (based only on observation), but I have been into mall pet stores that are little more than an indoor distributor for these puppy mills.

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Billusa99 Anonymous

There goes Twisted Dog's evening job....

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

John McClelland Verified

I applaud the Ft Worth Council. This is an issue I advocated when I ran for Council in Dallas and still believe it needs to be banned everywhere.

Not only is it ridiculous to allow animals to be sold in a parking lot or the side of a highway, it is also a road hazard in some cases (i.e. on the corner of US 380/FM 423 every weekend).

A reputable breeder isn't going to sit on the side of the road hoping someone drops in to buy their dog.

And in regards to Erin's point-- I wholeheartedly agree. In fact because of puppy mills, Petco and Petsmart stopped selling dogs and cats (they are only there for adoption). Smaller stores have continued the practice. I don't think a City Council would have jurisdiction over what can be sold in an establishment though, unless an additional ordinance was established. They also might have a hard time doing so without state legislation, since the cities already approved zoning and licensing for those stores previously.

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Anonymous

A couple of years ago, we bought a miniature Schnauzer from a roadside vendor. After a number of episodes of aggression towards our children, we took Werther in to the vet, who informed us that he was not a Schnauzer, but a Canis latrans. Schocking.

1 month, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )