Protect Pet Choice in Madison

The Madison Common Council is considering an ordinance that would ban the retail sale of cats and dogs in city pet stores. It’s part of a larger campaign to ban all pet sales at stores–including fish, guinea pigs, hamsters, and more. 

This misguided proposal would take choices away from prospective pet owners, driving them to less regulated and sketchier sources. 

If passed, File No. 90423 will:

• Cause families looking for pets to be at higher risk of scams
• Remove consumer protections that ensure animal welfare
• Set the stage to ban all pet sales in Madison, which would likely close several local stores

Responsible pet stores provide transparency, safety, and choice. Pet sale bans remove these protections and fail to shut down the bad actors they claim to target.

We need smart, effective animal welfare policies—not bans that drive families toward unsafe, unregulated sources.

Tell the Madison Common Council to vote NO on File No. 90423 and protect responsible pet choice in Wisconsin.