HUNTINGTON BEACH – After a free enterprise versus animal rights debate over whether pet shops should be allowed to sell cats and dogs, the City Council approved a phase-out of pet sales in the city.

Council members voted 4-3 to give the city’s two pet stores two years to phase out selling cats and dogs. After that, pet stores will be allowed to sell pets as long as they come from reputable shelters or rescue organizations.

“We’ve heard from dozens of our residents that they want this,” Councilman Joe Shaw said. “This is something that has wide support.”

Mayor Don Hansen and Councilmen Devin Dwyer and Councilman Matthew Harper voted against the ban.

“Business owners … will be asking, what’s next?” Harper said. “What is the next job-killer ban of the month proposal that we’re looking at?”

Those in support of the ban say the city’s two existing pet stores contribute to the problem of inhumane treatment of animals that has gained national attention in recent years.

Puppy mills are often large operations in the Midwest that scrunch dogs and kittens in small cages with no exercise and no human or animal interaction. Many animals suffer health and behavioral problems, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

“As concerned as I am about revenues, I don’t want sales tax revenue generated from the misery of puppy mill dogs,” Councilwoman Connie Boardman said, countering concerns about the ban driving business away.

Dwyer said he didn’t think the city’s action would solve the problem of puppy mills, but it would cause hardship for the city’s two family-owned businesses – Pets, Pets, Pets and Animal Kingdom.

“This problem … needs to be dealt with on a federal level,” he said. “I do feel this is going to be the death of these two stores.”

One Newport Beach pet store owner said the council’s move impinged on business owners’ rights and took the choice away from customers.

“You don’t need such a harsh law,” said Dan Digiacomo, owner of Russo’s Pets. “There’s enough regulation in our industry as it is now.”

He said Russo’s was asked to put a pet store in Bella Terra but he put the decision on hold pending the council’s decision.

Glendale pet shop owner Rene Karapedian said he switched his pet store, Pet Rush, to a humane model and found success.

“I am living proof that this is not only possible, but it is very easy,” Karapedian said. “The community will support. (The pet stores) will not only survive, they will make money.”

Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jerry Wheeler said the chamber could also not support a ban that would add more restrictions to small business owners.

“We live in an economy that’s driven by the marketplace and when it’s left alone it actually works,” he said. “Let the consumer make the decision. We oppose puppy mills but we (also) oppose this ordinance.”

Elizabeth Oreck, national manager for Puppy Mill Initiatives of Best Friends Animal Society, said buying from pet stores feeds the epidemic.

“Pets stores are a problem because they… are the reason puppy mills are in business,” she said. “Puppy mills are an inhumane industry that you all agreed you don’t want to support and yet the byproduct is being sold in your city.”

The ban was first presented by Councilman Joe Carchio in March and it seemed support for an all-out ban was strong. But at the council’s April 16 meeting, testimony from the pet store owners, their families and some customers prompted council members to back off a bit and consider the effect on the businesses.

“If all you care about is to make a few dollars, that’s wrong,” Carchio said. “If you have the ability to stop that then you should.”

Huntington Beach is the fourth Orange County city to take up a discussion on a ban in recent months. Laguna Beach and Dana Point recently approved the ban as a preventative action; neither city has retailers that sell pets. Irvine City Council members passed a ban in October and Lake Forest officials are expected to take up the issue this summer.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7953 or jfletcher@ocregister.com

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