Q: So my family and I run a pet shop here in San Diego, CA and was just wondering what is required to obtain a license to sell dogs/cats and where we can find reputable breeders. All info will be appreciated and thanks in advance!
A: You need to go to city hall to get a license for this sort of thing if it exists. Reputable breeders will not sell you dogs/cats period. And I would discourage you from selling them. Most people who are serious about owning an animal go to the pound or a breeder. The people who wake up and buy pets in pet shops ARE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT OWNING A PET. The cats and dogs in pet shops are most often from puppy mills because of breeders who will not sell their AKC registered animals to someone who will sell them to a third party, and many people in San Diego will not buy pets from a pet shops because so many animals in pet shops come from puppy/kitten mills. As someone who is running a pet shop, are concerned about the animal's well being after it has left your shop? Do you plan on screening people who buy pets from your facility? Will you take returns if the animal does not work out with the new owner? Breeders and shelters do take animals back, and do take caution in selling/giving animals to people. If you are not willing to take these steps, than DON'T SELL ANIMALS! Make sure you are doing this for your love of animals and not for the profit of selling foofy dogs to idiots in San Diego, we have enough strays and castaways who get put down every year because people buy cute pets on a whim and find out they are not so easy to take care of.