Currently, Burlington Ontario allows the sale of puppies in retail pet stores. While pet store owners can claim that the puppies are from "breeders", but the word breeder is not an exclusive term. Anyone who puts two dogs together and produces puppies is, technically, a breeder.

The sales of puppies in retail locations can support the operation of puppy mills, focused only on profits, not on the welfare of the animals. These can lead to some truly deplorable conditions for the parents of the puppies being sold.

The city of Burlington should follow the lead of other municipalities (Oakville, Mississauga, Toronto) and pass by-laws to protect animals and ban the retail sale of dogs in pet stores.

Puppies will still be available through reputable breeders, and more importantly, many dogs are available through adoption and rescue programs every year.