SCARBOROUGH – The Ordinance Committee on Tuesday will discuss a potential ban on the sale of puppies from puppy mills at pet stores in town.

Town Manager Tom Hall said the committee heard a presentation last month from Maine Citizens Against Puppy Mills, which asked town officials to consider stopping the sale of puppies and kittens in local pet stores.

If the committee recommends the town adopt an ordinance, it would not be directed at a specific pet store. Currently, Pawsitively Pets is the only pet store in Scarborough. 

Carol Reynolds, of Naples, wrote a letter to the town on behalf of the citizens’ group. She said a movement to shut down large-scale breeding farms, often called puppy mills, is gaining momentum nationwide.

“A crucial part of this movement is to end the demand for mill puppies through awareness campaigns, peaceful protest and transitioning pet stores to offer pets needing adoption versus selling mill puppies,” she wrote.

Hall said the Ordinance Committee listened to comments from six people on the issue, but committee members have not yet discussed a specific ordinance. Committee members may ask town staff to develop an ordinance for them to consider and vote on at a future meeting, he said.

The Ordinance Committee will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Scarborough Municipal Building.
 
 

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