SF delays vote on banning pet sales

TEXT OF STORY

Stacey Vanek-Smith: San Francisco is considering a ban on the sale of pets within the city limits. All pets that is except for fish. After five hours of testimony, the city’s Commission on Animal Control and Welfare decided to delay a vote on the issue. April Dembosky has our story.

April Dembosky: At first the commission was concerned about inhumane puppy and kitten mills. But then they learned of the hamster problem.

SALLY STEPHENS: Mommy, mommy oh I want a hamster, please.

That’s Commission Chair Sally Stephens. She says they’ve heard many stories where rescue centers get saddled with animals children tire of in a matter of weeks.

STEPHENS: We’re trying to interrupt that step from the impulse buy to ending up at euthanized Animal Care and Control.

But pet store owners said people will just buy their pets outside city limits.

Jennifer Grafelman is the manager at Animal Connection in the city. She says small businesses like hers will become casualties of a largely symbolic gesture.

JENNIFER GRAFELMAN: It’s probably eventually going to put us out of business. What San Francisco wants to do is tell the nation that let’s just stop animal sales in pet store retail altogether.

San Francisco has a long history of legislating in favor of minority rights. This is one area where some local business people wish the city wouldn’t take the lead.

I’m April Dembosky for Marketplace.