Split Las Vegas City Council votes to repeal pet store ban

A split Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday repealed a ban on that would have kept local pet stores from selling animals they didn’t obtain from animal care facilities or rescue organizations. The repeal vote followed hours of comments from passionate public speakers where those who wanted to keep the ban in place doubled the number of those who wanted it tossed. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, who favored the repeal, wants to convene a committee look at stamping out “puppy mills,” large-scale and inhumane commercial breeding operations. “We are opposed to puppy mills. Everything they are. This will not affect puppy mills,” Goodman said of the ban. “They’re going to continue to be there.” Pro-repeal speakers pushed for the council to overturn the ban to maintain a choice for city residents. Pet shop owners said it would force them out of business. Councilmen Stavros Anthony and Bob Coffin and Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian voted to let the ban take effect in early 2018. All three supported the ban when the council voted in 2016.