Live animals could no longer be sold at flea markets and swap meets in California under a bill making its way through the state legislature. The bill cleared its first hurdle today.
In an unusual show of bipartisan support, the Assembly Public Safety Committee approved the legislation unanimously. Democratic Assemblyman Roger Dickinson said the ban is needed to protect animals and consumers.
“Animals are frequently kept in unsanitary pens or cages without food or water and in extreme heat and in direct sunlight and handled by shoppers," Dickinson said.
Dickinson said the conditions increase the risk of disease for the animals.
Ken Denio operates Denio’s Farmers Market and Swap Meet in Roseville near Sacramento. He said the bill misses the mark.
“It’s just, it’s aimed at the people that aren’t licensed, that don’t follow the rules. It would drive all of the people that are legitimate out of business and then all you have left are the ones that are selling them on the street corners out in front of Petsmart,” said Denio.
California has already banned the practice of selling animals on street corners.
