Posted: Wednesday, July 9, 2008, 7:51 p.m., EST

Best Friends Animal Society and Last Chance for Animals plan to work together to end puppy store sales.

Best Friends Animal Society and Last Chance for Animals today unveiled plans to work together to end puppy store sales in the Los Angeles area, an effort the groups hope will provide a blueprint for the rest of California and the nation.

To make their vision for a "Puppy-Store-Free L.A." a reality, the two groups said they will work with lawmakers to tighten existing regulations and create new ordinances pertaining to the sale of dogs. The groups also plan to boost public awareness on the issue.

Tony Cardenas, L.A. city councilman, is one such lawmaker who spoke at today's press conference. He told an estimated 50 people in attendance that animals are the community's responsibility and he wants to see the city become a model when it comes to the care of dogs. Cardenas discussed how the city recently enacted a mandatory spay/neuter law, and said the ban of "puppy mills" is next on his agenda.

Best Friends defines any person that breeds dogs for commercial sale as a "puppy mill."

Other speakers at today's event included actress Maggie Q, who has posed in a lettuce bikini as part of one animal rights group's efforts to promote vegetarian diets, and Chris DeRose, founder of the animal rights group Last Chance for Animals.

Reporters from local TV stations and the Los Angeles Times attended the event.
 
One goal of the campaign is to educate families about the importance of knowing where they get their pets from, the groups said.

Ultimately, supporters want to see people in Los Angeles taking dogs home from rescue groups and animal shelters. By starting in California, they hope other states nationwide will follow that lead.

Earlier this month, the two groups said they began weekly protests at Pets of Bel Air in Bel Air, Calif. The groups aim to get the store to stop selling puppies and deal only in accessories and pet supplies. Last Chance for Animals ran a similar campaign against Posh Pets of Beverly Hills, claiming it succeeded in getting the store to stop selling puppies after five months. <HOME>