West Hollywood bans retail pet sales

West Hollywood, Calif.

-- West Hollywood City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on second reading Feb. 16 banning the sale of cats and dogs in pet retail stores. The vote followed another unanimous vote on the council's first reading of the ordinance.

The ordinance —- backed by the Companion Animal Protection Society, the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Humane Society of the United States —- will go into effect on March 18.

Exceptions are provided for humanely bred, reared, or sheltered animals, according to the city. Existing pet stores will be given time "to adjust" to the new law.