Montgomery County to consider ban on sales of cats, dogs from breeders

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — Lawmakers in Montgomery County are considering banning pet stores from selling dogs or cats supplied by commercial breeders.

The bill would allow pet stores to sell dogs or cats only if they come from animal care facilities or nonprofit rescue organizations.

The bill is meant is to prevent the sale of animals from so-called "puppy mills," where dogs and cats are raised in conditions that some advocates describe as inhumane. The council's public safety committee will hold a hearing on the bill on Tuesday evening.

Council President George Leventhal is the bill's chief sponsor. He notes in a statement that while there are no pet stores in the county selling dogs or cats, the bill is intended to prevent such sales in the future.