Todd Blevins, Kentucky state director for Humane World for Animals (formerly the Humane Society), asked the Paducah Board of Commissioners on Oct. 2 to consider an ordinance that would prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in pet stores and in outdoor venues such as flea markets and parking lots.

Blevins told the commission the proposal is targeted: it would bar retail sales of dogs and cats only, would not affect companion animals placed for adoption through shelters, and would not prohibit on-site sales by individual breeders who sell directly to the public. He described the measure as preventive; he told the board Paducah currently does not have a store selling dogs or cats under the retail model the ordinance would ban.

The proposal’s stated aims are to reduce demand for animals produced in large commercial breeding facilities (so-called puppy mills), limit the sale of sick animals transported through broker networks, and curb predatory financing arrangements sometimes used to sell high-priced animals. Blevins showed an undercover case video and cited USDA licensing data to illustrate the scale of commercial breeding operations in nearby states, saying Missouri remains the largest source of breeder-supplied animals that reach retail markets.

Tracy Phelps of the McCracken County Humane Society described the shelter’s ongoing partnerships with PetSmart and Rural King to host adoption kiosks and adoption events. Phelps said shelter animals are vaccinated, spayed or neutered and health-checked before adoption, and that in 2024 PetSmart and other store events accounted for about 20–25% of the shelter’s adoptions.

Commissioners asked how a local ordinance would interact with state law and whether cat cafes or rescue partnerships would be affected. Blevins said he did not expect statewide action and that the draft would not prohibit cat cafes or rescue-adoption partnerships; it is aimed at retail sales models that source animals through commercial brokers. He also confirmed that small breeders selling directly from their premises would be exempt, and that the measure would cover transient sales in parking lots and flea markets.

No formal motion or vote was taken. Blevins offered to return for a first-reading discussion if the commission pursues the item.

Why it matters: Commissioners weigh local business, public-health and animal-welfare concerns when considering restrictions on retail pet sales. Proponents say bans reduce the market for animals from large commercial breeders and protect consumers from expensive veterinary bills and disease risk; opponents often raise concerns about effects on small businesses and local commerce.

What’s next: Blevins said he is available to return if the commission requests first reading or further information. The McCracken County Humane Society and a local human-rights commissioner were identified as local contacts.