The Carlsbad City Council approved a ban this week on the retail sale of dogs and cats from commercial breeders and directed city staff to pursue legislation at the state and federal level to ensure the responsible and humane breeding and care of dogs and cats.

The ban is similar to the one the City Council considered in 2013, which did not pass. The current ordinance includes some new provisions similar to a ban recently passed by the City of Oceanside. These include providing existing businesses that sell dogs and cats from commercial breeders six months to comply. The 2013 ordinance exempted existing businesses.

The ban does not apply to the sale or adoption of cats and dogs from non commercial breeders, which include those who sell cats and dogs that were bred and reared on their premises, public animal shelters and animal rescue nonprofit organizations.

In Carlsbad a new law, called an ordinance, is first introduced at the City Council meeting and then adopted at the next City Council meeting. The ordinance goes into effect 30 days after adoption.

The details of the new ban are available on the city’s website.