The sale of cute puppies and other animals on the side of the road could soon be outlawed in the Capital City.
Councilman Quentin Whitwell introduced his first ordinance Monday prohibiting the roadside sale of animals.
The Inter-Governmental Committee chairman presented the measure that would make the offense a misdemeanor, punishable by fines.
Exceptions include any city animal shelter or non-profit organization.
Jackson city leaders agreed that the sales lead to animal abandonment and euthanizing thousands of animals each year because of overpopulation.
The Ward 1 representative calls the practice a form of animal cruelty.
"We have these people who are trying to make money by continually breeding these animals. A lot of times they are inbred. A lot of times there are problems with these animals and they're not healthy, and it's a public safety and public health issue," Councilman Whitwell said.
The ordinance passed unanimously and was voted into committee for further review.
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