Point of View: Two pet store bills the Legislature should reject

When people hear the Switzer name, football is one of the first things that comes to mind. But our household also is passionate about protecting pets from abuse and neglect. For that reason, we are very concerned about two bills pending in the Legislature that would set back the efforts of thousands of Oklahomans to make our state a more humane place.

Senate Bill 950 and House Bill 2149 would block our cities and towns from having any say as to whether a pet store can sell puppies from puppy mills.

Most people embrace the belief that the government closest to the people governs best. That is why we have city councils, in addition to a state Legislature. This isn't a controversial idea. So why are some in the Legislature attempting to fast track legislation that inserts state authority over local government when it comes to the issue of puppy mills?

A little digging indicates this idea did not originate in Oklahoma. This power grab is being advanced at the behest of an Ohio-based corporation called Petland. We can only speculate that Petland intends to open stores in Oklahoma. Why else would they try and strip our home towns of the right to set standards for pet stores? That is bad news for people who care about animals.

In December, the Humane Society of the United States released the results of an undercover investigation into two Petland stores, one near Atlanta and the other in Las Vegas. In both locations, the HSUS says they found numerous sick puppies that were kept in barren isolation rooms out of sight of customers. In the Georgia store, their investigator found a dead puppy in a freezer, wrapped in a black garbage bag.

The Centers for Disease Control also linked a multi-state disease outbreak to pet store puppies, most of which came from Petland. In this case, 118 people were infected with an antibiotic-resistant strain of Campylobacter.

Worse, Petland has come under fire many times for sourcing puppies from puppy mills. Is this the sort of business Oklahoma wants? Should the Legislature engage in a power grab to block localities from having a say as to whether companies like this open in your backyard? Or is it “anything goes” so long as someone is making a quick buck?

We imagine the answer to each of those questions is a resounding no. The Legislature should vote down SB 950 and HB 2149. If not, then Gov. Kevin Stitt can save the day with a well-deserved veto.

The Switzers live in Norman.