Reno City Council members voted to ban new business licenses for puppy mills through April of next year.
For the next six months they will not be able to sell dogs or cats.
This vote was approved Wednesday to try and stop inhumane treatment of pets within the city.
"What we are specially looking at is retail sale of cats and dogs, and when they're not treated humanely. We don't have a lot of them within the City of Reno or in Washoe County," says Angela Fuss the Planning Manager with the City of Reno.
Mayor Hillary Schieve stated today that the City will not condone animal cruelty.
If you are looking to buy a dog and/or cat this ban will not affect adoption.
"Anything that's done through the Humane Society or through a non-profit where you are adopting. Rather than coming out and buying from a commercial establishment is very different. So we want to encourage people to go to the Humane Society and non-profits to adopt out these animals," says Fuss.
Over the course of the next six months City of Reno staff will decide if commercial sales of cats and dogs has a future in Reno.
This comes after two co-owners of two puppy stores in Reno were indicted on felony charges in September, including torturing and/or killing an animal.
The two were arraigned in court on Wednesday, September 18.
That case is still ongoing.
