San Francisco May Ban Live Animal Sales in Pet Stores
San Francisco officials are considering a significant change that could please animal rights activists by banning the sale of live animals in pet stores.
This week, a large group of activists urged the SF Animal Commission to support the Retail Animal Sales Prohibition Act, aimed at prohibiting live pets’ sales citywide.
During a committee meeting on Thursday, advocates argued that this ban would put an end to “breeding factories” and the capture of reptiles and other animals from the wild.
Proponents also suggest that it could reduce the abandonment of “exotic” animals and help address the overcrowding in shelters and rescues.
Kitty Jones, an activist for animal and human rights, mentioned that there is considerable local backing for the ban, with over 60 organizations signing a letter in its favor.
Interestingly, there are currently 29 pet shops in San Francisco that simply offer services like grooming, boarding, supplies, and adoption. Officials noted that only nine stores sell live animals.
This includes several locations of Petco, as well as Animal Connection, Pet Central SF, Animal Company, and Ocean Aquarium.
However, pet shop owners express dissatisfaction with the proposed ban and are prepared to contest it.
One employee from Pet Central SF stated, “This is our livelihood. This is a business and this is what we depend on.”
Rick French, who has long owned Animal Company, criticized the proposal as yet another poor city policy that makes it harder for business owners to function.
“There are new challenges in San Francisco that create difficulties in running a business,” he commented. He further expressed concern about potential backlash, saying, “They’ve gone too far. I think there’s going to be a lot of backlash against this. We’re certainly going to organize and fight this as hard as we can.”
Julia Baran, owner of Animal Connection, remarked that banning the sale of live animals won’t stop people from seeking pets. Instead, she believes individuals may turn to sites like Craigslist or order them online.
The commission has decided to forward a recommendation to Mayor Daniel Lurie and the Board of Supervisors to endorse the ban.
Notably, state law already prohibits the retail sale of cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, gerbils, hedgehogs, and sugar gliders. Currently, California stores are limited to selling only amphibians, fish, birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, and reptiles.
In another update, Jones pointed out that Albany, a city in Alameda County’s East Bay, recently voted unanimously to support a ban on retail animal sales and plans to draft an ordinance for voting soon.
Last year, West Hollywood became the first city in Los Angeles County to impose such a ban, which officially took effect on May 1, 2026. Notably, animals from shelters and rescue facilities can still be sold under this new rule.
