Naperville is going to hold off on creating new restrictions on the sale of dogs from commercial breeders that some consider “puppy mills.”
Councilmen unanimously agreed Tuesday to see how lawsuits around the country including Cook County play out first.
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“We are concerned about it, and we will deal with it, but we do want to delay it,” Councilman Joe McElroy said. ” … There’s no point in coming up with something that’s modeled after something that’s going to get shot down in court.”
Animal-rights groups brought the issue to the council in June saying dogs used for breeding by large facilities aren’t treated well and the resulting puppies often have health problems that aren’t addressed.
“The parents of puppies sold in stores like this are suffering year after year in shameful and deplorable conditions in puppy mills, then cast aside in horrible ways when they can no longer produce offspring,” resident Cheryl Kirk said Tuesday.
Owners of pet stores in Naperville have consistently said they buy from responsible breeders and that laws already are in place to govern the process.
“We believe that the USDA breeder inspections and the recent Illinois puppy lemon law have been instrumental with providing both dogs and families with better conditions through which to purchase a pet,” said Adam Stachowiak, owner of Petland in Naperville.
He said the store is expanding the literature available for those who purchase puppies including more information on the breeders, training, behavioral needs and nutritional needs.
Councilman Bob Fieseler asked him if that information could also be made available on the store’s website.
“I … tend to believe in the free market and that when people have information they’ll make the … right choice,” Fieseler said.
However, Stachowiak said doing so puts the store at a competitive disadvantage. If such online disclosure was mandated statewide, he said, it wouldn’t be a problem.
In addition to pending litigation over other puppy mill laws, including one in Cook County, councilmen have expressed concerns about enforcement of new rules and how a puppy mill would be defined. Some definitions are based on how the dogs are treated while others lump in every breeder of a certain size.
Councilman Steve Chirico also said Tuesday he would like to see if the state will act.
“I think that on a state level this is much better policy than it is on a patchwork basis,” Chirico said.
Councilmen ultimately decided to table the issue until June and animal-rights advocates said they understood the decision.
“I do truly believe Naperville can draft and enact a legally sound humane model ordinance,” said Sherri Oslick, a Naperville resident and attorney. “But also fully respect council may be reluctant to move forward in view of the pending (litigation).”