CARMEL — A Carmel City Councilor has proposed amendments to the city’s ordinance that would prohibit pet stores from selling cats or dogs within the city’s limits.
Councilor Adam Aasen is proposing the change because many pet stores that sell cats and dogs obtain their inventory from unlicensed puppy mills, many of which are out of state.
Aasen said it is the next step for the city in protecting animals.
"The Carmel City Council has already prohibited puppy mills from operating in our city limits and we already prohibited pet stores from sourcing their animals from puppy mills," Aasen said. "This simple change takes the next step to protect animals and discourage abuse and mistreatment. This law would be actually easier for our city to enforce because we wouldn't have to track down where the animals are obtained from, which can often be out of state."
The new policy would not prevent pet stores from collaborating with animal care facilities or rescue organizations to offer space to showcase adoptable cats or dogs.
Aasen said no pet stores in Carmel currently sell cats or dogs and so no existing businesses would have to change their practices. While the problem doesn't currently exist in Carmel, Aasen said the city has a history of being proactive rather than reactive.
"These stores do exist on our city's borders in neighboring municipalities and so this fear isn't unfounded," Aasen said. "By making this change, we can prevent a problem before it happens."
Fines could be up to $2,500 per offense. Multiple violations could lead the City of Carmel to seek an injunction to shut the business down.
Several other communities in Indiana have similar laws in place, including Bloomington, Columbus, Crown Point, Dyer, Munster and Whiting.
-
AES Indiana to host community office hours to prepare for summer energy needs
As summer approaches and temperatures rise, AES Indiana is encouraging customers to proactively plan for increased energy usage and higher bills.
ACLU sues Governor Mike Braun over changes to IU Board of Trustees election
The ACLU of Indiana has taken legal action against Governor Mike Braun regarding the budget bill, HEA 1001, which alters the selection process for members of the Indiana University Board of Trustees.
Indiana celebrates Small Business Week
Small businesses represent a majority of businesses in the Hoosier state. Indiana is home to more than 570,000 small businesses and those companies employ 1.2 million people.
Tariffs impacting the cost of flowers, what's in store for Mother's Day?
As Mother’s Day weekend approaches, florists are dealing with the impact of tariffs on imported flowers, posing challenges for their operations.
