Humane Canada, also known as the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, believes that the best place to acquire a pet is from a reputable animal shelter, and we urge Canadians not to buy pets through classifieds, the internet or pet stores.

The internet and pet stores are the main points of sale for puppy and kitten mills, in which animals are mistreated, neglected and bred continuously to maximize profit. In general, responsible breeders do not sell their puppies or kittens to pet stores because they want to meet their buyers in person to ensure each animal goes to a suitable home.

A pet bought at a store is often an impulse buy, which makes future abandonment of the animal more likely. Meanwhile, thousands of adoptable animals who are in crowded shelters across Canada continue to go without homes.

Humane Canada supports the restrictions on retail animal sales that are being implemented or considered in cities across Canada. They will prove to be a useful tool in the fight against pet overpopulation and inhumane breeding operations.

What you can do:

• Write to your mayor and municipal councillor: ask them to consider a bylaw to restrict the sale of live animals from pet stores. At the very least, the retail sale of animals who are not spayed or neutered should be prohibited.
  
  
• Email, call or write to stores that sell kittens, puppies and other animals: tell them that you will not shop there until they stop selling animals and start an adoption program instead. Tell them they can put their cages to better use and build goodwill in the community by displaying animals up for adoption from local shelters or rescue groups — as many other pet stores already do.
  
  
• Encourage everyone you know to adopt pets: Hundreds of thousands of adoptable animals need homes, and they need our help. Adopting is one of only ways to guarantee you’re getting your pet from an ethical source!