The option of buying a pet from a retail store in Chatham-Kent is about to become a thing of the past, as stores will soon be prohibited from selling non-rescue animals.
Councillor Brock McGregor brought forward a motion Monday night, to make an amendment to the Responsible Animal Ownership by-law.
Some concerns were raised when the motion was put on the floor, but in the end McGregor's motion passed 12-4.
Emily Meko, an advocate against puppy mills, spoke in front of council in support of McGregor's motion.
"[Stopping the sale of non-rescue animals] is something that has president in several communities now so it's definitely gaining momentum," she said. "I think it's going to have a really good effect for Chatham-Kent.
Concerns raised during council were in regards to whether the municipality had the right to prohibit the sale of non-rescue pets and how it would be policed. Mayor Randy Hope mentioned that having the amended by-law wouldn't stop someone from going to another city like Windsor or London to buy a pet from a pet store.
Meko agreed saying it doesn't stop the bigger issue, which is the operation of puppy mills, however, it is a step in the right direction.
"It's definitely one step but it's a very important step," she said. "You can't stop people from [Chatham-Kent] to going to a pet store in Windsor but what we can say with certainty is that someone from Cambridge or Toronto can no longer come to Chatham-Kent and do the same here."
McGregor said the amendment to the by-law will be looked at by legal staff and read out during the reading of the by-laws at the next council meeting.
"Essentially what we're doing is giving a direction of what we'd want amended in that by-law," he said.
McGregor adds the amended by-law will go into effect immediately.