Keeping Kalamazoo an Animal Friendly City

Right now, there is an over-crowded kennel filled with dogs that have never had a warm, clean space to sleep. Puppy mill breeders are producing puppies to sell to pet stores that buy puppies, kittens, and other animals from similar large-scale breeding operations. They may be inbred or have genetic ailments that should have never been allowed to reproduce. When they can no longer produce litters they are discarded like trash. These indiscriminate breeders will sell those good enough to pass off as healthy. These animals will have been born for one purpose: profit.

In another backyard, wild and exotic animals are kept in cages that do not meet these animals' complex needs. Animals such as monkeys, elephants, tigers, and other species are only allowed out of confinement to be trained to perform confusing and difficult tricks. The training is cruel and often involves physical abuse and fear. They'll be loaded into trucks and trailers without adequate space or care and forced to perform with circuses and other traveling shows all across the country. These animals are abused for one purpose: entertainment for profit.

Both of the scenarios described are happening every day in the United States, including here in Michigan. While Kalamazoo no longer has any puppy-selling pet stores, two circuses have performed in our city in recent years. The most recent notable exotic animal exploitation, the monkey rodeo hosted by the Kalamazoo Growlers in2016, has not returned since. We want to ensure that the trend towards compassion continues, that businesses that profit from puppy mills and wild animal abuse do not set up shop in our city again.

There is a tried and true method to ensure that cities do not harbor industries that contribute to animal abuse. In 2019, Royal Oak, Michigan, passed an anti-puppy mill ordinance that bans pet stores from selling dogs, cats, rabbits, or ferrets - all animals typically sourced from breeders who prioritize profit over animal welfare. Eastpointe, Memphis, New Baltimore, and Fraser have also passed similar ordinances designed to reduce demand for animals from large-scale breeders. In 2018, Ferndale amended an ordinance that bans the display and performance of wild and exotic animals. Kalamazoo should follow the example of these other cities and codify human practices into law, ensuring that our city does not harbor or encourage businesses that exploit animals.

While three states (California, Maryland, and Maine) have prohibited the sale of commercially-raised puppies in pet stores, Michigan has not taken such decisive statewide action. The local movement continues to be most effective, with over 370 localities across26 states enacting pet store laws and dozens of cities restricting exotic/wild animal shows. Cities can take preventative action by incorporating these types of protections for animals into their city code. Kalamazoo has proven to be a community that loves animals. Kalamazoo County completed the brand new Kalamazoo CountyAnimal Services & Enforcement shelter in 2019, and the KalamazooHumane Society just moved into the Animal Care & Resource center in December 2020. The next logical step for animal lovers in Kalamazoo is to push for ordinances that protect vulnerable animals from puppy mills' cruelty and exploitation for entertainment. Even if these businesses are not currently operating within the city limits, ordinances preventing them from setting up shop in the future will ensure that Kalamazoo will not unwittingly become a supporter of these two forms of animal exploitation.

If you would like to show your support for ordinances that protect animals, use the link or QR code to contact the Kalamazoo CityCommissioners. Let them know that you love animals, and you want to see them protected in our progressive and animal-loving city. Animals trapped in puppy mills and traveling shows cannot speak up for themselves; they need you to ensure that our city government takes a decisive stand against animal cruelty.

You can help by contacting the Kalamazoo City Commissioners - tell them you want Kalamazoo to protect animals from puppy mills and exploitation for entertainment. You can use our easy email template to sent the letter. Follow this link or use the QR code below --> https://form.123formbuilder.com/5764668

https://form.123formbuilder.com/5764668/