Target: David Wilson, City Manager, West Hollywood, California
Goal: Fully enforce West Hollywood’s sweeping live-animal retail ban with tough penalties, license revocations, and swift action against any sellers who violate it, including sales that target fragile species such as hermit crabs and small reptiles.
West Hollywood has approved a first-in-the-nation expansion of its retail live-animal ban, extending protections beyond dogs and cats to birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, small mammals, arachnids, and hermit crabs. The ordinance takes effect in 2026 and reflects growing concern that store-based animal sales can drive impulse purchases, poor husbandry, and supply chains where animals suffer long transports and cramped displays. Including hermit crabs signals that even the smallest, often-overlooked creatures deserve protection.
Without strong enforcement, unlawful sellers could shift to “under-the-counter” transactions or quick pop-ups that vanish before inspectors arrive. Some outlets have kept animals in crowded tanks or barren enclosures that may cause stress, injury, or death. Experience in other jurisdictions suggests that clear rules, visible sweeps, and meaningful penalties deter bad actors while supporting humane, adoption-based pathways.
To make this landmark measure work, the city should finalize implementation now. That means retailer outreach, a public complaint portal, proactive inspections, escalating fines, and immediate license suspension or revocation for repeat violators. Coordination with county and state partners can ensure rapid case referrals where criminal statutes may apply. Sign below to call for full enforcement and maximum lawful penalties whenever the ban is allegedly breached.
PETITION LETTER:
City Manager Wilson,
West Hollywood has adopted a groundbreaking expansion of its live-animal retail ban, adding protections for species ranging from birds and reptiles to fish, small mammals, arachnids, and hermit crabs. This is a humane milestone. It will only succeed if enforcement is strong, swift, and visible.
We respectfully urge you to direct Code Compliance to implement a robust plan before the 2026 effective date. Please establish proactive inspections, a public reporting portal with rapid response, and clear guidance to businesses. When violations are found, we ask the City to pursue maximum administrative penalties, seize unlawfully offered animals when permitted by law, and revoke licenses for repeat offenders.
We also encourage coordinated referrals to appropriate county or state agencies when evidence supports additional charges. Publishing routine enforcement summaries will reinforce deterrence and show residents that the city is serious about protecting animals and ending harmful retail practices. This ordinance can be a model nationwide—strong enforcement will make that promise real.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Stripey the crab
