Oceanside to Discuss Possible Ban of Dog Sales in City

A request from councilwoman Esther Sanchez to discuss a ban on the sale of dogs in pet stores in Oceanside has prompted a warning letter from a local business owner.

The ban will be discussed at tonight’s council meeting, which begins at 4 p.m. and are held in the city’s Council Chambers at 300 North Coast Highway.

The issue is a hot button topic that has raised the ire of San Diego pet storeowner David Salinas who wrote to Oceanside city attorney John Mullen directly.

“…Our hope is that you have already advised the mayor and city council that this Ban is unconstitutional and the Ban will not accomplish what these animal rights activists say they are trying to accomplish,” the letter reads in part.

Salinas fight began with the city of San Diego which passed it’s own ban against the sale of dogs in July. Breeders there told that council the ban would only hurt legitimate business and not necessarily stop puppy mills, according to several published news reports.

Supporters point out the animals sold in these pets stores spend a great deal of time trapped in small cages.

His fight against the ban is moving toward federal court, Salinas wrote in his letter to Mullen. The letter is the first step in the process of having the courts reverse the ordinances that Salinas called unconstitutional.

When contacted by Oceanside-Camp Pendleton Patch on Monday, the mayor said he was unavailable for comment and Oceanside staffers did not immediately respond to calls for comment.