Proposed Ordinance Would Bar Roadside Animal Sales
Posted/updated on: July 26, 2011 at 2:29 pm
LUFKIN — Lufkin’s newest city council member, Sarah Murray, said she will introduce an ordinance to keep people from selling animals from the roadside. The proposed ordinance, drafted by the city’s attorney, specifically states: “It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, trade, barter, lease, rent, give away or display for a commercial purpose any live animal on a roadside, public right-of-way, commercial parking lot, or at an outdoor special sale, garage sale, swap meet, flea market, or similar event within the corporate limits of the City of Lufkin.” According to KETK and the Lufkin Daily News, the ordinance is restricted to domesticated animals, and does not include livestock.
Murray, a longtime animal rights activist, said she sees people selling animals in commercial parking lots and finds it appalling. “The animals that are brought to sell are from puppy mills,” said Murray, who represents Ward 6. “Sometimes these dogs are inbred. Another thing is they have no immunizations, no vaccinations, they are not spayed or neutered. I’m against euthanasia. My idea is if they’re not born, then they don’t have to die.”
Murray claims some of the dogs are selling for up to $500 and are not AKC (American Kennel Club) registered. Many of the animals could have diseases, such as parvo. “Parvo is deadly,” Murray said. “If it isn’t detected, the dog can give parvo to the rest of your animals, and they will all die.” Most importantly, she said the animals wait in inhumane conditions to be purchased. She said some don’t have enough shade or water to endure the East Texas heat or bitter cold temperatures of winter.
“It was freezing last year, and people had brought in birds in cages, and they were sitting out in the cold, cold weather,” Murray said. “To me it’s just unethical. These animals have no choice.” The side-of-the-road sale also encourages impulse buying, Murray said, which leads to more animals in the shelters, Humane Society or dumped in neighborhoods and on country roads.
