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Will sales of certain pets be prohibited in Las Vegas-area pet stores?

By Todd Butterworth
YES

The Clark County Commission passed an ordinance to ban the sale of dogs, cats, rabbits and potbellied pigs in retail stores. The new law intends to reduce the market for animals bred by "puppy mills," relieve overcrowding in area pet shelters, and encourage adopting pets in need of homes.

Retail pet stores will be given one year to transition from the pet sales model and can use their locations to offer pet adoptions together with local shelters and rescue organizations; the Commission hopes this provision will help stores maintain foot traffic to sell their other products. Once the law is in effect, each illegal sale would incur a $500 minimum fine.

A similar state law in California has not seen fewer sheltered pets, but some believe this results from difficulties people experienced because of the pandemic.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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