New Ardmore ordinance prohibits sale, giveaway of pets in parking lots

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Posted: 5:51 PM Dec 18, 2008
Last Updated: 5:51 PM Dec 18, 2008
Reporter: Daniel Armbruster
Email Address: daniel.armbruster@kxii.com

32 comments

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ARDMORE, Okla. ― The Ardmore City Council approved a new ordinance that prevents the selling or giving away of any animals in parking lots, on sidewalks, or any public right of way.

Officials with the City of Ardmore say they have received numerous complaints that many of the animals sold in parking lots and on side walks came from puppy mills. The problem with that is that there is no guarantee they are healthy.

"We have gotten lots of calls from folks who have puppies that have turned out to be sick. They have worms, have diseases, have fleas, have lice, have mange. And so it seems to be a problem. There's no place for citizens who've bought these dogs to back to because they come without warranties, obviously," Ardmore city manager Dan Parrott says.

Ardmore is not the only city to do this. Sherman passed a similar measure a few years ago. Parrott says if caught selling animals in prohibited locations you could receive a fine of up to $200.

The new ordinance takes effect immediately.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Quick Draw Location: Town Center on Dec 27, 2008 at 11:32 AM
It's unclear if the City of Sherman has an ordinance that prohibits people from loitering in parking lots of businesses attempting to pawn off animals. If one such ordinance does exist, Tax paying citizens should call the City council, Mayor, and City Manager to have this ordinance enforce. The Peace Officers are not to blame for they are swamped with calls that take priority over such things.

Posted by: deb Location: durant on Dec 23, 2008 at 01:22 PM
well, i've heard enough. maybe someone dropped off a pregnant cat (or dog) that wondered up to their home and had the six cutest kittens you've ever seen. (they couldn't keep them you see cause they already have 5 grown cats and 1 kitten that had already been dump off at their place) unfortunely, no one wanted to take one or two of the precious little things even though they ask EVERYONE they knew and even ran an add in the paper advertising FREE KITTENS! still no takers. then they took them to the walmart parking lot and gave away 4 of them! ok, so now they have 6 grown cats and 3 kittens but hey! it could be worse they could still have the other 4!

Posted by: mother Location: home on Dec 22, 2008 at 11:25 PM
more people are ready to enforce animal laws..and just a few links away there is a story about a man that abused a baby and he isnt in prison. what a sad sad world

Posted by: Crystal Location: Sherman on Dec 22, 2008 at 02:24 PM
I wondered about this being a law in Sherman or not. I notice every weekend just about, especially now around Christmas time, that there are MANY people selling puppies up at the town center. If it's against the law, then why do the police not do anything about it?? I mean, it's pretty obvious what they are out there doing. I don't get why they are not made to stop.

Posted by: Mary Location: Sherman on Dec 22, 2008 at 10:31 AM
CITIZEN .... I don't have to mind my own business...oh wait I live in Sherman so this IS my business!! You're just unhappy because you must be one of the people setting up selling these poor puppies. If It's my tax dollars they're spending then you bet I'm going to be judging if they're doing their job or not and they're NOT in this case!! I sold my puppies the right way and it was so easy I know that EVERYONE that has nothing to hide can do it too. The people who bought my puppies came to my home and saw the mother and father and they know where I live if a puppy gets sick or something. If you want to judge someone for doing something wrong then look in the mirror and start there.

Posted by: Tired Location: Sherman on Dec 22, 2008 at 10:20 AM
got puppies? Hummmm you could run an add in the paper you know. It's cheap and then you could get rid of the puppies that way instead of breaking the law.

Posted by: Me Location: Sherman on Dec 22, 2008 at 10:15 AM
SE....news flash.....get the animal fixed so there won't be litters that need homes!!!!!!!

Posted by: Mary Location: Sherman on Dec 22, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Yet again this Saturday I was shopping and PetSmart was doing the puppy adoption and just a few hundred feet away were several vehicles selling puppies in the parking lot. Is Sherman going to do anything about it??? Sherman should enforce it but they don't even try.

Posted by: CUTE puppies Location: anytime,anywhere on Dec 21, 2008 at 05:43 PM
How am I suppose to buy crack if I cant sell my puppies in the busiest places in town, my dogs are the cutiest and the sickest, and no one can bring them back because there is no guarantee, and you cant find me cause i'll be in the next town selling more unhealthy pups, while i drive my Caddy home.This law sucks.....

Posted by: julie Location: home on Dec 20, 2008 at 03:56 PM
FYI Dogs don't have LICE...

Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 20, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Citizen of Sherman,so I guess you r one of these people that break the law and sit on the Wal-Mart Parking lot selling these puppies? If you r one of these days you will get caught and we are not judging the police but when our Tax money is paying their job we expect these Police officers to do their JOB!!!!

Posted by: SE Location: Bryan on Dec 20, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Prohibiting the "sale" of animals in parking lots is fine, but I think people should be able to "give away" litters that just need a home.

Posted by: whomever on Dec 20, 2008 at 06:52 AM
I can see both sides of the story here, BUT i think that you shouldn't sell puppies or kittens or any animal for that matter in a parking lot. How do you know for sure that by just looking at the animal that there was not or is not something seriously wrong with that animal or the mother and father of these animals or that they where not stolen? Some people are sick and twisted and do sell stolen stuff because they are too lazy to do anything themselves. I know myself personally NO i would never buy an animal in a parking lot. I read the Classifieds when im looking for a an animal OR i talk to my co-workers and see if any of them might know someone that has the type of animal, or might know where i could find one. Get a Life and quit freaking out about it. Its really not the end of the world that this was passed. REALLY!

Posted by: Mike Location: ardmore on Dec 19, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Hey, I know people that work hard and have puppies out of a litter (with papers) that sell there pups at the walmart parking lot because the newspaper didn't work. Get a life "bill" not all people that do this are rednecks! Another BS law that pleases the "imaginally" wealthy!!

Posted by: blah Location: blah on Dec 19, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Bill from Southmayd..."There is more red necks in Ok." Take a grammar lesson before you start calling names. I have a college degree, a job, and a life, and it still doesn't bother me to see people selling pets in parking lots. Maybe some are from puppy mills but not all of them. If they aren't selling them then they would be running loose everywhere, moron.

Posted by: Bill Location: Southmayd on Dec 19, 2008 at 06:21 PM
It is about time this law was enacted.Most of you selling dogs at the parking lots probably either stole them or your too cheap to have them spayed or neutered.I have turned people in for this and will continue to do so.This is so red neck and leads to dogs loose everywhere,reading the red neck posts from you people against it is so funny and scarry.FACT, there is more puppy mills in Ok. than any state in the union, that is because there is more RED NECKS in Ok. get a job, you wont pass any bond issues to make things better, but you sure gripe a lot.Thank you Ardmore.

Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 19, 2008 at 06:11 PM
Are tyhese pups all sold by puppy mills or by folks wanting to make some cash selling off dogs from one litter? How can you tell? I see folks selling pups from their vehicles at both WalMArt & Sherman Town CEnter- only folks that might get mad would be Petsmart (competition, you see.....)

Posted by: Sweetness Location: Ardmore on Dec 19, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Idiots; Just because there is someone selling pups in a parking lot doesn’t make them Unhealthy or from a puppy mill. Pups raised in puppy mills are pick up by the truck load And sold to pet stores and then sold again to you the general public at a tremendous mark up. It surprises the hellouta me how the media runs the country and how easy you fools fall in line.

Posted by: Beth Location: durant on Dec 19, 2008 at 02:58 PM
So what..unless you plan on sitting in the parking lot with them what should it matter to anyone. I see them all the time in durant and guess what..I drive right on by and I don't have to see them again unless I drive by again. My god people let it go!

Posted by: Mork Location: Ork on Dec 19, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Ok, I get it. No more pets in the parking lots. But what about my kids? Can I get rid of my kids in the parking lots? I keep dropping them off down town and they always find there way home. Poor Puppies.

Posted by: Ron Burgandy Location: Ardmore on Dec 19, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Great! Thanks Ardmore! Another ordinance! Awesome! We need an ordinance that prohibits stupid ordinances! Or an ordinance that prohibits more credit companys to be opened in Ardmore! Something that is actually useful! This is stupid! People who actually buy pets off the side of the road are a waste of time to be thinking about! How about spending more time attracting new business and lowering taxes or cleaning up area business.

Posted by: good humor man Location: denison on Dec 19, 2008 at 11:08 AM
That's awesome that Ardmore is doing something about the safety of the pets! Now, if they could only concentrate on the safety of the citizens by cracking down on the shootings, muggings, and robberies, it might be a better city! Way to get the priorities straight!

Posted by: Zyklon B Location: Sherman on Dec 19, 2008 at 09:04 AM
How genius! Now I guess I will have to dump my unwanted puppies in the country without food or a home, or better yet dump them at City Hall in Ardmore. Giving them away in a parking lot is better than dumping them in the country or drowning them. Some people can't afford to have their pets fixed (should be called broken instead). I had to give away 3 litters b4 I could afford the surgery. How many pets will swim with the fishes now?

Posted by: CITIZEN Location: SHERMAN on Dec 19, 2008 at 09:03 AM
Mary - mind your own business. Rather see them selling puppies than themselves or drugs on the sidewalks. Find something else to complain about. WHAT DID YOU READ!!! Also "Center" is spelled with ONE "n". Don't judge what the police responsibilities are.

Posted by: Futz the Breeder on Dec 19, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Now how will I sell my next batch of wombats?!

Posted by: Jeanne on Dec 19, 2008 at 05:58 AM
Thank you Ardmore. It would be nice to see this happen in other towns. If you want to adopt go to a shelter or a well known breeder if you want a purebreed.

Posted by: Spoiled Dogs Owner Location: Sherman on Dec 19, 2008 at 12:22 AM
I run a 'Hair' house in Sherman and I only have two dogs. I need a new vacuum for Christmas that really sucks or start making some dog hair wreaths! I agree with Mary, they are still selling dogs 'on the curb' everywhere. Poor puppies

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Sherman on Dec 19, 2008 at 12:18 AM
Mary is right, the cops in Sherman do nothing about it, these people do it all the time on the Sherman Wal-Mart parking lot and nothing is said or done about it, even if it gets passed in Ardmore cops won't do a thing about it, they are too lazy to do anything

Posted by: JESSIE Location: ARDMORE on Dec 18, 2008 at 11:31 PM
JUST ANOTHER WAY TO STOP SOMEONE FROM TRYING TO EARN SOME EXTRA MONEY. I GUESS IF WE WERE SELLING OTHER STUFF THEN IS THAT OK. ALSO IS IT ILLEGIAL TO SELL PUPPIES FROM YOUR HOME MAYBE AT A GARAGE SALE. COME ON PEOPLE LIGHTEN UP AT LEAST ITS LEGAL MONEY BEING MADE.

Posted by: got puppies? Location: ardmore on Dec 18, 2008 at 10:33 PM
This law is ridiculous. I have 4 puppies that I have taken in due to poor living conditions. These dogs are part of a litter of at least six, two of which were found dead do to inclimate weather. Sure I could take them to the shelter... then who is it that decides thier fate? A guy doing his job, more than likely desensitized to the fact that if no home is found for them, they will end up with thier brothers and sisters in an unnecessary puppyhood death. I will take my chances and find them a good home on my own accord. As for the pupy mill scams... sure that must be bad. I personally dont care either way, but this is discrimatory in such a manner that legit people who need to find a home for dogs is out of luck. What do you think people are going to do? Neuter thier animals; maybe. They are going to make a decision that could cost them up to $200. Will the local law enforcemebt agency actually uphold this new ordinance. It is doubtful, people like to help those in needs, even dogs.

Posted by: Annoyed Location: Durant on Dec 18, 2008 at 08:44 PM
I wish they would do this in Durant. It looks trashy and it's not fair they don't have to pay rent and get prime locations!

Posted by: OMG Location: Ardmore on Dec 18, 2008 at 07:29 PM
Just plain rediculous... They're animals, not humans.... What a hypocritical world we live in... Everyone is ok with butchering and eating cows, chickens, pigs, etc..... But sell a puppy that doesn't have all its shots and you would think you were satan himself... It's still a "free" country and if a person can sell his or her wears Such as blankets, shoes, rugs, flags, etc. in a parking lot, than a person should be able to sell an animal there aswell....

Posted by: Fantastic!! Location: ardmore on Dec 18, 2008 at 06:54 PM
Its about time!!! these people need to stop breeding dogs if they dont want them, and I imagine the ones who do it for profit do not even have a kennel permit. so next time is see you in the parkinglot with dogs, be ready becuase im calling in on you!

Posted by: DogLover Location: Sherman on Dec 18, 2008 at 06:50 PM
I run a puppy mill and am shocked that I cannot sell my sick/unhealthy puppies in a parking lot. I guess I will just have to find another scam. Maybe a pyramid fraud is in order. Thanks

Posted by: Mary Location: Sherman on Dec 18, 2008 at 06:16 PM
Yeah they passed it in Sherman but guess what???? The don't do anything about it. I was at the Town Cennter last weekend and there were 6 vehicles selling dogs and not too far away was a police car and he did nothing. I was shocked. I just sold 6 puppies and I did it by an add in the paper and I sold every one in just 24 hours so there are other ways to do it. The police should have at the very least run those people off. Why bother passing anything if the police are just going to turn a blind eye to it anyway!

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