The Salt Lake City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to create a new city ordinance that will prohibit pet stores from selling animals not obtained from an animal shelter, control agency, humane society or nonprofit rescue organization.
The restrictions aim to prevent “puppy mills” from taking hold in the city, reduce pet overpopulation and ensure animals sold in commercial animal establishments are treated humanely.
“We don’t always have the opportunity to vote on these types of things in Salt Lake and to protect animals, and I know this is something that’s really important to me personally and to the constituents that I represent,” Councilman Chris Wharton said before the vote.