A bill that would change where dogs and cats are obtained to be sold in a pet store is set to go in front of the Las Vegas City Council.
The new bill would specify that only animals from rescues and nonprofit groups could be sold at stores in the valley.
Emotions were running high on Monday during a meeting of the recommendation committee to decide whether or not to send the proposal to the city council.
So many people showed up to voice their opinion at the meeting that Councilman Ricki Barlow said that it was the longest recommendation committee meeting that he has ever attended.
The goal of the new rule is to find homes for animals that are already in the Vegas area and to keep puppy mill dogs out of local pet stores.
Many people believe that puppy mills produce sick animals and that the animals used for breeding are abused and tortured.
Las Vegas Petland franchise owner Jeff Fausett told the recommendation committee that the bill will put him out of business.
He says that if he can't sell puppies, which are 70 percent of his business, he will have to shut his doors and 26 employees will love their jobs.
Fausett claims that he only gets the animals he sells from reputable breeders who are licensed by the USDA. He says that the people who come into his store are looking for high-quality, pure bred pets and he can't get those from rescues.
But animal advocates say that is not true. They claim that there are many pure bred animals in shelters.
Half the room stood up to speak about bill that would stop pet stores from getting pets from puppy mills. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/vpvjlmbwVC
— Elizabeth Gadley (@EGadleyKTNV) November 30, 2015
