Kitsap County bans sale of pets from large-scale breeders

KITSAP COUNTY, Wash. — Pet stores in Kitsap County will no longer be able to sell animals from large-scale commercial breeders.

While many animal advocates are celebrating the news, Silverdale Farmland Pets & Feed store owner Jack Monroe said the move will destroy the business he’s owned for 43 years.

Monroe said he gets his puppies from a large kennel in Kansas that is inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“When it comes to kennels, this is as good as it gets,” he said.

Because of a new Kitsap County ordinance, that’ll have to change.

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“Pet stores can only obtain puppies and kittens, or cats and dogs, that they want to sell from animal welfare organizations, such as humane societies and animal rescues,” said Eric Baker, the policy manager for the Board of County Commissioners.

On Monday, Kitsap County commissioners voted to ban pet stores from selling animals they buy from large-scale breeders. The move promotes the sale of shelter pets.

Humane Society Executive Director Eric Stevens said the ordinance helps animals everywhere.

"In these large breeding situations, there can be hundreds or even thousands of animals bred and raised at the same time, often living in very cooped-up housing conditions,” he said.

Monroe said the kennel he buys puppies from has about 30 breeds and close to 700 adult dogs. He said the American Kennel Club gives the kennel a five-star rating.

He said his puppies are healthy, five-generation pedigree dogs that come with medical reports, vaccinations, microchips and a one-year congenital defect guarantee.

KIRO 7 asked people in Silverdale what they think.

"I feel like the operation behind where the puppies come from and where the animals come from -- (that) may be more beneficial to focus on than the places that are selling them,” said Jack Wall.

“Some people only want a purebred dog. Although it's not the best to have a purebred dog, if that's what you want, you should be able to go find that dog and, if you want to help save a life, you can go adopt a dog,” said Ian Wilson.

Monroe said the move will force him into retirement.

He sells about 400 puppies per year for about $1,200 each, meaning he’ll lose nearly $500,000 a year.

"I feel like there would be a way to make it work in the end where they didn't have to go out of business and not rely so heavily on just the sale of animals, whereas, they sell a lot of other things also,” said Wall.

The move doesn’t change regulations for small-scale breeders.

The ordinance goes into effect July 22, 2020.

Cox Media Group