Major retailer introduces sweeping new ban on all stores nationwide

The country’s third largest pet retailer will implement sweeping changes in its stores across the country and is urging other businesses to follow suit.

The country’s third largest pet store is set to introduce sweeping new rules across its stores and has urged other retailers to follow in its footsteps.

PetO announced it would ban the sale of live animals across its 58 shops nationwide.

Last year, the retailer acquired 41 pet shops and 25 veterinary clinics that were divested from Petstock and Woolworths, propelling it to become the third-largest pet retailer in the country.

PetO has pledged to stop selling live animals across its entire store network nationwide. Picture: Supplied

The pet shop will continue its adoption drives across the country. Picture: Supplied

The business, which was founded in 2007, said the sweeping changes were an effort to encourage more responsible pet ownership among Australians.
“The transport, storage and sale of live animals in pet shops is ethically problematic and can lend itself to issues relating to animal welfare as well as irresponsible ownership of pets,” a statement read.
PetO said the business would likely take a hit in its revenue in the short term but anticipated the change would boost its annual revenue to a projected $250m by 2028.

Despite the ban on selling live animals in its nationwide stores, the pet retailer will continue to operate its in-store adoption events, where the public can come in and adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters.
PetO is now urging other major pet shops to follow in its footsteps and halt the sale of live animals in-store.

The retailer is urging other pet shops to follow in its footsteps and stop the sale of live animals. Picture: Supplied

According to Animals Australia, while the majority of pet sales are completed online, about 15 per cent of cats and dogs are purchased from pet shops nationwide.

There are no blanket rules about selling live animals in pet shops across the country, with states implementing their own rules and regulations.

In Victoria, pet shops can only sell live animals from approved sources, including registered shelters, foster carers and pounds.

Queensland’s pet shop code recommends pet retailers acquire animals, such as cats and dogs, from reputable sources “who can demonstrate compliance with accepted standards”.
However, the Queensland government said compliance to the code was not compulsory.
In NSW, pet shops are able to sell live animals and have been instructed to follow the code of conduct to “protect the welfare of the animals in their care”.

Originally published as Major retailer introduces sweeping new ban on all stores nationwide