This September, the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) will be voting on two resolutions that could directly harm the pet care industry. NR75 - Mobile Live Animal Programs and NR77 - Provincial Support for Addressing Feral Rabbits, risk hurting responsible pet owners and small businesses in the province. Pets Canada is calling on UBCM to vote against these two resolutions.

NR75 calls on the province to prohibit the import, keeping, breeding, and transport of all exotic species. This would create a "positive list" ban, threatening reptiles, birds, ornamental fish, and small mammals, and undermining responsible pet ownership and lawful businesses without clear welfare or safety gains.

NR77 requests a province-wide strategy on addressing feral rabbits. While the issue is real, this has the potential for unintended restrictions on legitimate rabbit sales and sets a precedent for future retail bans. This resolution would also not address the actual drivers of abandonment such as illegal dumping, unmanaged breeding, and gaps in public education.

Both of these resolutions will hurt responsible pet owners and small businesses and there already exist effective solutions through existing laws, education, and responsible pet ownership programs. If adopted by the UBCM, this would put municipalities on record pushing the province toward sweeping restrictions.

Pets Canada supports responsible pet ownership, welfare, and public safety. However, these resolutions create broad bans that fail to address root causes and harm responsible members of the pet industry. UBCM must vote against these two resolutions and work with stakeholders in a thorough consultation process to ensure that future regulations do not create extreme unintended consequences.