San Francisco Considers Banning Sale of Pets Except Fish

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 7/8/10 | Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer

[this is my country]

Sell a guinea pig, go to jail.

That's the law under consideration by San Francisco's Commission of Animal Control and Welfare. If the commission approves the ordinance at its meeting tonight, San Francisco could soon have what is believed to be the country's first ban on the sale of all pets except fish.

That includes dogs, cats, hamsters, mice, rats, chinchillas, guinea pigs, birds, snakes, lizards and nearly every other critter, or, as the commission calls them, companion animals.

"People buy small animals all the time as an impulse buy, don't know what they're getting into, and the animals end up at the shelter and often are euthanized," said commission Chairwoman Sally Stephens. "That's what we'd like to stop."

San Francisco residents who want a pet would have to go to another city, adopt one from a shelter or rescue group, or find one through the classifieds.

[rockinqsranch]

The latter.

[this is my country]

Another problem: people can still buy pets outside of San Francisco, so what happens when they bring the pet into town? Will they be stopped at the town line? Will they be forced to liberate the pet? Take it to a shelter? Euthanize it? Elect it to the City Council?

Imagine applying for a job and you have to answer "yes" to a misdemeanor and explain that you crossed the town line to liberate a pet and that you belonged to the pet liberation squad. This is insane!!

[FrankR]

The Left Coast is la-la land...not only would I not live there, I have no desire to even visit that area.

Sometimes it seems the whole state is one, big, outdoor, asylum.

[C210N]

Dog and Cat lovers of San Fran, DO NOT FRET. There are still options open to you.

[television is just wrong]

“more people out of work”

my sentiments exactly

[lupie]

You can’t make these things up.

[lupie]

Ridiculous ping!

[bikerman]

Noooooo! not my pet rock.

[stayathomemom]

"People buy small animals all the time as an impulse buy, don't know what they're getting into, and the animals end up at the shelter and often are euthanized," said commission Chairwoman Sally Stephens. "That's what we'd like to stop."

It sounds like she is trying to prevent "pet abortions". I wonder where she stands on the "Right to Life" issue?
Isn't tuna a big industry in the San Francisco area? Do you suppose someone at StarKist was a little afraid that someone might label their catch of the day a pet and not allow the sale of tuna?;-)

[ladyvet]

What’s the problem? The fags can smuggle their rodents into town just the way they like it.

[AeWingnut]

Isn't tuna a big industry in the San Francisco area? Do you suppose someone at StarKist was a little afraid that someone might label their catch of the day a pet and not allow the sale of tuna?;-)

Shhhh, they'll hear you

[Joe 6-pack]

"People buy small animals all the time as an impulse buy, don't know what they're getting into, and the animals end up at the shelter and often are euthanized," said commission Chairwoman Sally Stephens. "That's what we'd like to stop."

If this were simply about ending impulse buys, they'd just implement a 3 or 5 day waiting period...lots of responsible breeders have interview processes and some will even insist on meeting prospective buyers at their residence to see if the environs are appropriate for the breed.

Nope....this is just about control and furthering the left's anti-property agenda.

[freebilly]

They can have my gecko when they pry it from my cold dead hands....

[Lonely Bull]

Clearly, the proposed law discriminates against fish.

It's fishist!

[ThunderSleeps]

Ah yes, the typical liberal response. Take any situation, when a few people act irresponsibly, don't make it their fault. No, instead, have the nanny state step in and take away everyone's liberties to "solve" the problem.

You can apply this to firearms, automobile/motorcycle safety, food, business regulation, etc. This is the liberal mindset, use the power of a big all-protecting state to prevent or reduce misery. What they can't or won't see is that their vision is oppressive and prevents and reduces joy too.

[Gorzaloon]

Incredible. Fish only?

Yeah.

It was that damned Icthyo-American lobby, writing campaign checks again.

I knew there was something fishy going on.

[ThunderSleeps]

Funny, it’ll soon be ok to be an illegal alien in SF, yet you could go to jail over a pet? Maybe people should start taking on illegals as pets? ;-/

[GailA]

Hey those they just flush down the toilet themselves.

[old curmudgeon]

I hope it becomes law.

Because there are quite a few idiot veterinarians in the US who have supported the HSUS and PETA, thus giving them with the gullible some credibility.

This should finally wake up those in the veterinary profession who are so stupid as to support HSUS and PETA.

The same goes for some of the pet food and other associated industries.

The ultimate goal is to ban the ownership and/or possession of all animals, including farm animals.

[capt. norm]

Maybe they are catering to the ever-powerful Guppy Lobby.