A Retail Pet Sales Ordinance is NOT about putting pet stores out of business or preventing businesses from starting up.  It is about promoting a humane and successful business model.

• • Stores that sell ONLY pet supplies made $157 MORE per square foot of space than stores that sell live animals (refer to chart above).
  • The selling of live animals is an outdated, dying business model.  According to Pet Business, in 2019 of the Top 25 Retailers, only 1 sold animals.  The others succeeded by offering quality products and services.
  • As of November 2019, 24 pet stores in 11 states have successfully converted to the humane model and 20,147 shelter/rescue puppies and dogs were adopted.

The Humane Society of the United States provides extensive support to make this conversion:

• Increased name recognition for the store
• Consumer loyalty, financial support, word-of-mouth outreach and repeat visitors
• Stronger community ties thanks to their partnership with local animal shelters
• A free listing for your store on the HSUS Puppy Friendly Pet Stores web page and in other media
• A free listing through the HSUS phone texting application so shoppers can find them from anywhere
• Free, customized guidance through the entire process
• Answers to their questions about the benefits of providing adoptable animals at their store
• Advice from other store owners who have already converted to a more humane model
• Help finding animal shelters in the area to partner with
• Publicity for the conversion via a grand re-opening

More information from HSUS: www.humanesociety.org/resources/puppy-friendly-pet-stores

Learn about Retail Pet Sales Ordinances.