Pet shop owners oppose factory pets farming

Owners of a Umina pet shop have attended a rally to oppose the "factory farming of companion animals" and to prevent their sale through pet shops.

The rally was launched by Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore at Belmore Park, Sydney, on Sunday, September 18, for Puppy Farming Awareness Day.

Paws on the Coast owners Ms Jody Mckinnon and Donna Mckinnon-Bell said they were not selling pets for profit.

"We have been working with Clover for more than two years now to educate and put a stop to impulse buying of pets.

"When so many animals lose their lives every year, there is no reason for people to be backyard breeding their dogs and cats,' said Jody.

"If you are not a registered breeder, your pets should be de-sexed," she said.

"We run puppy and adult training classes in-store.

"We believe a properly socialised and trained dog will have a better chance of staying with their owners forever.

"Paws on the Coast has now been open for nearly four years.

"We are proof that you can run a successful pet shop without profiting from pets," said Jody.

"With Christmas coming up, we strongly suggest that a lot of thought goes into buying a pet for Christmas.

"They are a life time commitment.

"The months following Christmas see the shelters over-run with puppies and kittens that were presents but all too soon the novelty has worn off."

Ms Mckinnon said she supported the Oscar's Law movement, which aimed to abolish the factory farming of companion animals, ban the sale of factory farmed companion animals from pet shops, online and in print media and insist the government run a proper campaign on responsible pet ownership.

Email, 19 Sep 2011 Jody Mckinnon, Umina