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Council debates draft ordinance to limit sale of cats and dogs at pet stores; staff to refine language before second reading
Summary
Councilmember Agnew presented revisions to a proposed ordinance intended to address inhumanely bred animals, including a provision that would bar pet stores from selling cats and dogs unless sourced through shelters or rescue organizations; council asked the city attorney to reconcile definitions and return on March 18 for further action.
Councilmember Agnew returned to a proposed ordinance on March 4 intended to curb the sale of inhumanely bred animals and described changes to the draft after consultation with the Humane Society. The revisions include strengthened language that would generally prohibit pet stores from selling cats or dogs and explicitly allow pet-store partnerships with animal shelters or rescue organizations.
Agnew described adjustments to definitions and to section language, and said she removed a prior reference to USDA licensure because Humane Society reviewers told her federal licensure did not meet the standards she and others expect. “A USDA licensed facility may legally confine dogs in cages only 6 inches larger than their bodies ... provide only wire flooring ... breed dogs repeatedly and excessively without limits,” Agnew said, summarizing criticisms she had received from animal-welfare advocates.
Council discussion focused on two practical questions: first, whether the council should simply bar all retail sales of cats and dogs in pet stores in Edina given definitional and enforcement challenges; and second, whether permitting sales from shelters and rescue organizations (including a requirement to show sourcing information) would achieve the ordinance’s humane-breeding objective without creating an enforcement burden.
City Attorney comment: the city attorney noted existing municipal code contains a commercial-kennel definition and recommended reconciling any new “pet store” definition with the current ordinance language to avoid confusion.
Next steps: council members signaled general willingness to proceed but asked the city attorney to refine the draft (particularly to reconcile the commercial-kennel and pet-store definitions, and to clarify exemptions for shelter/rescue partnerships). The council agreed to return the item for further discussion and possible action on March 18, 2025.
