METUCHEN – The Borough of Metuchen now prohibits the retail sale of dogs and cats except for responsible rescue or donated animals.
The Borough Council moved to approve an ordinance prohibiting so-called puppy mills at a meeting on Dec. 9.
Mayor Jonathan Busch said the ordinance ensures the borough is doing its part to protect against puppy mills. He said the issue was initiated by an effort of the Humane Society of the United States, headquartered in Washington, D.C.
For a few months, Larry Cohen, a volunteer for the Humane Society of the United States, has attended the council meetings, urging members to consider an ordinance prohibiting puppy mills. He shared documented inhumane conditions in puppy and kitten mill facilities.
When the council introduced the ordinance in November, Cohen said it was remarkable the council received seven statements of support for the ordinance from animal businesses in the borough, such as pet stores and groomers. With Metuchen’s move on the ordinance, it joins 140 towns in the state to have banned the retail sale of dogs and cats.
Busch said down the line, the council may also consider regulating dog/cat breeders if an issue arises and it is important to the community.
The ordinance does not affect a consumer’s ability to obtain a dog or cat of his or her choice directly from a breed-specific rescue organization or shelter, or from a hobby breeder where the consumer can see directly the conditions in which the dogs and cats are bred or can confer directly with the hobby breeder concerning those conditions.
Councilman Daniel Hirsch said the ordinance accurately captures the intention of the borough and borough’s Board of Health.