Animal Advocates Push for Ban on Commercial Pet Sales in Raleigh

Animal advocates are escalating their efforts to address the issue of puppy mills and the commercial sale of pets in Raleigh. Members of NC Animal Advocates United, along with other supporters, recently presented a proposal to the city council, calling for a ban on the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores. Their goal is to end the commercial sale of pets while allowing rescues and shelters to continue adoption programs with adoption fees.

The push comes after months of controversy surrounding Petopia, a downtown Raleigh store that sold puppies and other pet products. The store, located on E. Martin Street, faced heavy criticism from protesters who accused it of operating as a “puppy mill.” Activists organized a picket outside the store and launched an online petition to raise awareness. Petopia closed its doors in January following the protests.

Josh Baldwin, an organizer with NC Animal Advocates United, emphasized that while businesses can be pressured to change their practices, the ultimate solution lies in legislation. “Ultimately, these types of stores can still pop back up,” Baldwin said. “If I think government has any good role, it’s definitely in protecting lives, and in this case, protecting the lives of dogs.”

The proposal presented to Raleigh’s city council is based on an ordinance passed in 2019 by North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Nikki Fontana, a council member from North Myrtle Beach who championed the ordinance, spoke at Raleigh’s public comment session. “In 2019 we became the first municipality in the state of South Carolina to pass this ordinance,” Fontana said. She has since shared the initiative with other cities, including Wilmington, and plans to speak in Durham and Charlotte.

According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, over 400 cities and counties across the U.S., as well as at least six states, have implemented bans on retail pet sales.

Although Raleigh’s city council did not respond during the public comment session, the issue is expected to remain under consideration. ZZ NEWS reached out to Mayor Janet Cowell for her thoughts on the proposal and the potential for a similar ordinance in Raleigh, but she has yet to respond.

Baldwin acknowledges that his group faces challenges in pushing for an ordinance in Raleigh, particularly due to limited authority granted to municipalities by the state legislature. “We kind of have to work with state legislators, that’s kind of the next step,” he said.

For now, NC Animal Advocates United plans to continue advocating for action at the city level while working with state lawmakers to secure further progress.