(JP) Mail-order pets? Group smacks `bad' retailers on nose

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http://www.asahi.com/english/national/K2003092800182.html

 

Mail-order pets? Group smacks `bad' retailers on nose

 

The Asahi Shimbun

 

The nation's largest pet industry group issues the

first guidelines for pet retail and ownership.

 

Hoping to curb irresponsible dealers ``who give the

whole pet industry a bad name,'' a nationwide group of

2,000 pet shop owners is trying to put a stop to

buying and selling pets by mail.

 

Under guidelines proposed by ZPK, or the Japan Pet

Retailers Association, mail-order purchases of pets

would be prohibited.

 

The group is also hoping to spur local governments to

beef up regulatory measures, including suspending

serious offenders.

 

The move by the nation's largest pet industry

organization is the first attempt to regulate pet

commerce.

 

Among the group's demands are that pet traders be

required to keep litters together until the animals

are properly weaned, and to disclose all information

regarding the health and condition of an animal's

parents and siblings.

 

The group also wants to require that all pets be sold

with proper paperwork, including certificates and

proof of vaccinations.

 

Purchasing mail-order pets over the Internet and by

other methods would be prohibited in principle.

 

``There's something not quite right about dealing in

life without even looking at it first,'' says Osamu

Suematsu, the head of ZPK, an industry group made up

of roughly 2,000 pet shops, or about 20 percent of all

pet dealers.

 

None of the association members offer mail-order

services.

 

Nevertheless, there are plenty of Web sites out there

offering cats and dogs for sale-complete with price

lists and pictures.

 

The group also wants to make clear owner's

responsibilities. The guidelines include making sure

owners understand what they're undertaking and that

they are committed to keeping their pet for life.

 

Dealers are also asked to keep updated records of

their stock to keep track of animals that escape

during a natural disaster.

 

The group also recommends the pets are properly tagged

with a microchip containing individual information to

prevent them from being abandoned, and to prevent pets

brought in from overseas from being released into the

wild.

 

Under the animal welfare and protection law, traders

can set up shop by simply registering with the

prefectural or city government. Many animal rights

activist organizations say traders should be licensed.

 

``A small group of irresponsible traders is damaging

the whole industry,'' says Suematsu. ``We must take

our responsibilities seriously and take a moment to

remember that we are in charge of living commodities.

 

``In terms of animal welfare, we have a long way to

go. We hope to raise the level of awareness to that of

the Western countries.''(IHT/Asahi: September 26,2003)

 

(09/28)

 

 

 

 

 

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