Boise passes 'compassionate' animal code overhaul - KTVB.com

BOISE, Idaho — The city of Boise on Tuesday approved a sweeping rewrite of its animal code, which bans "puppy mills," criminalizes leaving pets in hot cars and outlaws the use of animals in circus acts.

Councilman TJ Thomson said the changes create a "compassionate animal code in line with Boise's kindhearted values." The city council unanimously passed an ordinance that will repeal and replaced the current code.

Thomson has been preparing the code overhaul for several years, with help from the Idaho Humane Society and Humane Society of the United States.

"There are many parts of this code that reflect not only good practices but truly the emerging best practices in standards of veterinary care, standards for animal cruelty, standards for how a moral, caring, loving and just society treats its non-human, living members," said Councilman Patrick Bageant.

Thomson said officials from several cities in Idaho and multiple states have requested copies of the new code, to reference for their own animal code updates. .

The code only allows the sale of dogs and cats in retail stores if the animal is obtained from an animal care and control agency, animal care facility, animal shelter or nonprofit rescue organization that does not breed dogs or cats or buy them from a commercial breeder.