How Much Is That Doggie In the Window?

Although I'm not a fan of chains, I love that PetsMart and PetCo invite rescue groups to hold adoption days instead of selling puppies and kittens. I used to think this symbolized increased awareness of puppy mills and that the days of singing, "How Much Is That Doggie In the Window?" were over.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. Over the past year, two pet store chains that sell puppies have opened near me. Every other weekend, one of them posts a giant sign near a major intersection promoting its "Puppy Sale!" as if these puppies were furniture or clothes. I imagine they're getting older and no longer as cute so the pet shop wants to "move the merchandise" to make room for more "inventory." That mentality makes me ill.

So my new hero is Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney, Australia. A few weeks ago, she introduced the Animals (Regulation of Sale) Bill 2007 to the New South Wales State Parliament. This would prohibit the sale of all mammals -- including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and rats -- in pet shops in New South Wales. For details, go to Parliament of New South Wales.

Julia Kamysz Lane