The Athens City Council on Monday introduced a bill that — if approved — would prohibit retailers from selling pets from “puppy mill” breeders.

The bill is similar to one recently passed by the Huntsville City Council. It would stipulate a retailer could only sell dogs and cats obtained from an animal shelter or rescue organization.

Some council members were ready to vote on the ordinance Monday, but District 3 Councilman Frank Travis said he needed more time to study the ordinance. Council President Harold Wales said it would come up for a vote at the next council meeting on Jan. 28.

Animal rights advocates have been pushing for the bill, partially because they believe a retailer known for selling puppy mill dogs has an interest in acquiring the Pet Depot in Athens. The advocates believe if that happens, the new retailer would then sell mass-bred dogs.

When asked if there was any truth to the rumor, Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks said Pet Depot has been contacted, but he did not know of any agreement that would result in the store changing hands.

Nevertheless, District 4 Councilman Joseph Cannon asked if time was of the essence on the ordinance. Given that it would be another two weeks before the council votes on the ordinance, he expressed concern if any agreement to sell puppy mill animals would be grandfathered in.

City attorney Shane Black told the council once the ordinance is approved and then advertised in the newspaper, it becomes law, and retailers would have to abide by what the ordinance says.

Several Athens-Limestone Animal Shelter supporters were in attendance at the meeting. Dr. Robert Pitman, owner of Limestone Veterinary Clinic and the veterinarian who treats the shelter animals, told council members the ordinance would be “a great thing” for animal control.

He explained even with spay and neuter programs, the shelter took in 600 more animals in fiscal year 2018 than fiscal year 2017. He said whereas the city of Huntsville claims to have euthanized 300 animals last year, more than 900 were put down in Athens.

An emotional Pitman told the council no more outside dogs needed to be brought in from other states. He said shelter director Priscilla Blenkinsopp and her husband braved heavy rain Saturday to drive nine dogs to Jasper so they could find new homes.

“Many puppy mill dogs have birth defects and it’s expensive to treat those things,” Pitman said. “If people go into a pet store, they think they’ve been vetted and properly cared for. We try to vet them, but they slip through the cracks sometimes.”

Pitman said there’s nothing wrong with someone wanting a designer breed of dog, but he urged prospective pet owners to try to find someone in Limestone County.

“You don’t have to go to Missouri to find that,” he said. “We have it here in Limestone County.”