Arlington Heights Pet Store Gets Reprieve After Suburb Opts Out Of County Puppy Mill Ordinance
(CBS) -- An Arlington Heights pet store gets a reprieve from the Cook County puppy mill ordinance for now, reports WBBM's Lisa Fielding.
Owners of Happiness Is Pets at 15. W Golf Road say they would have to close under the Cook County ordinance so they asked for a provision to opt out.
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Village Manager Randy Recklaus says the board decided to do so and will create its own ordinance.
"We are going to look at how we redefine what a puppy mill is and what it isn't," Recklaus said. "We're going to look at how it impacts businesses, how it is going to be enforced, what other provisions such as transparency issues in terms of where businesses are getting their animals."
The Cook County law prevents pet stores from selling animals obtained from puppy mills.
Recklaus says the board will revisit the issue in 60 days and adopt new rules for stores and look for a compromise between business owners and animal rights activists.
