New ordinance in Ammon, Idaho Falls makes the sale of puppies in public spaces illegal

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI)- On a sunny Saturday, especially when it is warm, you may find people gathered by the Ammon Sportsman's warehouse selling puppies. After a new city ordinance was passed, you will no longer be able to find puppies for sale in public spaces in the City of Ammon.

In a release sent by the city, the reason for the new ordinance is due to "numerous complaints regarding the sale of puppies in Ammon public areas."

Clarissa Mueller Ammon's Ordinance Officer says it was also enacted to ensure consumer safety. "We really felt a duty to our consumers to limit the sale of puppies to make sure that we were only promoting healthy animals that are vetted, that are spayed or neutered," Officer Mueller said.

She added that many of the complaints came in last fall and there was more than just the health of the animals that was a concern. "There were people crossing the street mid-block not using crosswalks. We've had accidents there with people just wandering and looking. And so we felt that it was time to dive into this a little bit further and we had some veterinarians reach out with concerns of parvo that they had been treating that from puppies that had come from the sportsman's area There on the greenspace there by the sidewalk."

The same release stated among the complaints they received was worry about the health of the animals. "Due to the multitude of public safety concerns and welfare concerns for the puppies (i.e. parvo) and following the Humane Society of the United States’ recommendations, the City adopted an Ordinance to prohibit the sale of dogs/cats or puppies/kittens in public places or businesses."

The ordinance does not apply to the sale from where the animals were born. It also doesn't apply to animal shelters or humane societies.

Officer Mueller adds that while the ordinance does not apply to them the new ordinance may help them rehome animals in need. "It eliminates a lot of strain and stress on our local animal shelters."

The ordinance and release say it will not limit people wanting a new pet to go and get that pet. "This ordinance does not affect a consumer’s ability to obtain a dog or cat of their choice directly from a breeder where the consumer can see the conditions in which the animals are bred and reared, a breed-specific rescue, animal shelter, or animal rescue organization."

Officer Mueller clarifies that the most reputable breeders have a process they have to go through. "We don't have responsible breeders who aren't selling their pets to our pet stores or going into the parking lot. They want you to come into their home and see the living conditions of the momma dog and the conditions that the puppies were raised in and how socialized and all their vetting and also responsible breeders will have you sign a contract often and will take the dog back. If you can't take care of it for whatever reason."

For more on the ordinance, you can find it here.

In a city council meeting on Thursday, the Idaho Falls City Council also approved a similar ordinance. The Idaho Falls Ordinance states, "It shall be unlawful for any person to display, offer for sale, deliver, barter, auction, give away, transfer, sell, or otherwise transfer ownership of any animal to another upon a street, sidewalk, public park, public right-of-way, or other public place."

Eric Grossarth the public information officer for the city of Idaho Falls, says that Idaho Falls also received similar complaints as Ammon.

"People in the community had brought forward to us and something that both our local animal shelter and then the privately run humane societies and the animal shelters here saw and there was a concern about that for the welfare of the animals," Grossarth said.

It adds you can't also sell animals in stores either. "It shall be unlawful for any person to display, offer for sale, deliver, barter, auction, give away, transfer, or sell any live dog or cat of any age in a retail business or other commercial establishment located within the City, except for a dog and cat obtained from an animal shelter, humane society, or non-profit animal rescue organization that does not breed dogs or cats and does not obtain dogs or cats from a person who breeds or resells such animals for payment or compensation."

The main reason behind the new ordinance is because of health concerns for these animals. Parvo among them.

"Parvo is something that can spread lots of deadly diseases with the animals being sold in those types of places. And then also just an abundance of dogs being brought in that aren't from reputable breeders into the shelters. And so that kind of led to the creation of this ordinance," Grossarth said.

For more information on the Idaho Falls ordinance, you can find it here.

Ammon and Idaho Falls are among over 400 cities in the country with similar ordinances says Grossarth.

The Bonneville Humane Society also is encouraging people to consider adoption. "Adopt an animal from a shelter situation. They're good critters. They're all looking for a good home. And we want to be able to be sure that they get a good home," said Kittie Sieh the President of the board of Directors for the Bonneville Humane Society.

Sieh is also encouraging potential pet owners to consider the needs of the Animal as well as their own. "The adoption of an animal should not be a spur-of-the-moment decision. It is a lifetime commitment for the lifetime of that critter, and it's not fair to the animal to do that."

Sieh says when you adopt from most shelters including the shelter at the Bonneville Humane Society, the animals are spayed and neutered. "I would think that it's probably a real money saver too, to get it, to get an animal from us or the city shelter or wherever, but get a critter that needs a home and discourage people from allowing their animals to breed indiscriminately."

She adds that going to the humane society can make the process cheaper. "They come in to our facility, they sign up, the animal the cost is actually based on what they weigh. But cats can be spayed or neutered for $50. Dogs, it's a weight thing. But it's very inexpensive relative to the cost actually of having a litter if you do that."

Sieh also encourages people to come to their microchip clinic on May 6 to help you keep track of your family critter.