Currently, Watertown does not have pet shops open for business. However, the large number of new commercial buildings, many with retail space, might be a viable option for a pet shop chain. We are encouraging the city to be proactive and be certain a shop that sells animals cannot open in Watertown. Recently, the City Council asked the Administration to propose policy guidance or an ordinance on limiting pet shop operations.
Animal shelters in Massachusetts and nationally are at capacity with dogs, cats, kittens, puppies, rabbits, guinea pigs and other unwanted pets. Many puppies and kittens are sold to pet stores by large scale commercial breeders (“puppy mills”) who constantly create litters in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Overbreeding leads to infections, birth defects, and often under socialization of innocent animals. Puppies and kittens in pet shops are sold without being spayed or neutered, and with little to no recourse for pet owners who discover their new family member has serious medical issues.
Puppy and kitten mills are purely profit driven. They are not concerned about where their animals go, or who ends up owning them. A reputable breeder (and there are many) will selectively sell to new owners and manage their breeding cycles carefully and thoughtfully.
The goal in passing this ordinance is not to stop Watertown residents from becoming pet owners. It’s to ensure our residents acquire healthy animals by adopting from local shelters, using reputable breeders or breed specific rescue groups, and prevent our city from being an outlet for animals from large scale commercial breeding who often end up in in shelters or suffering from serious medical issues. Pet shops could partner with shelters and rescues to provide pets to the public within their store.
Recently the city of Beverly, MA passed a similar Ordinance. There are now 16 cities/towns in our Commonwealth who have banned pet stores from selling commercially bred animals. Watertown should join that group to save innocent animals from suffering, avoid unwanted litters, and provide potential pet owners with access to the healthy animals they deserve.
Sincerely Watertown Residents,
Charlene Allen & Ann Cox
Agree!
I fully agree!