KTNV ABC,Channel 13,Las Vegas,Nevada,News,Weather,Sports,Entertainment,KTNV.com,Action News .:. Should animals be sold at outdoor swap meets?

Should animals be sold at outdoor swap meets?

Should people be allowed to sell animals outdoors? It's a follow-up to a Contact 13 investigation which Darcy Spears first brought us over the summer a story where the images still stick in everyone's minds.

"This is definitely cruelty to animals that we're seeing right now and the conditions out there are unacceptable," said North Las Vegas Animal Control Supervisor Dale Smock, while watching undercover video shot at the Broadacres Swap Meet over the summer.

The video shows puppies for sale at the outdoor swap meet... barely able to move in stifling heat... being thrown food on top of their own feces.

"We believe it's a cruelty issue," said Gina Greisen of Nevada Voters for Animals.

"These are little puppies. These are helpless little animals and it's our job to protect them."

After our investigation first aired in August, North Las Vegas lawmakers vowed to pursue a ban on animal sales at the swap meet.

"This isn't a Broadacres issue, this is a humane issue," North Las Vegas City Councilman Richard Cherchio told Contact 13 in August.

But now, North Las Vegas police have proposed an ordinance that would merely modify what's already on the books.

"Ultimately, we can't just go in there with a one-sided view, because there are people who want to partake in this activity, and if it can be done safely, then there would be little reason for the police department to oppose it," explained Sgt. Tim Bedwell.

"I know that the ordinance goes a long way to correcting that problem. I guess you could almost consider it a first step in the right direction," Cherchio said.

Not good enough, says County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani.

"Unfortunately, the ordinance would permit them, and the whole issue is they should not be allowed anyway."

She and fellow commissioner Tom Collins both sent letters to their colleagues in North Las Vegas urging a ban on all sales of animals at swap meets.

"And by getting at the swap meets and saying you can't sell these animals, you'll finally get at least at the backyard breeders and the ones that are abusing the program in the first place," says Giunchigliani.

Collins, who represents over half of North Las Vegas in his commission district, proposed a unique strategy.

"Just write a check to the swap meet to not have the animals there that would be a lower amount than what you're gonna end up spending on Animal Control officers, and the bill that you're gonna get from the Lied Animal Foundation for the control of these animals," he said. 

And he's serious.

Giunchigliani says the ban is an important protection for animals as well as consumers in a setting that deserves more scrutiny than it gets.

"We have to do everything then to make sure that the consumers who are choosing to buy things are protected. In this case, no animal should be sold in that manner, period."

The new ordinance would not allow animals to be sold outside if it's colder than 50 degrees or hotter than 85.

It would also require sellers to register as licensed breeders.

The attorney for Broadacres called us late this afternoon to say they regret the unfortunate circumstances that we exposed this summer.

They say they fully support the new restrictions and as of now, they only have two animal vendors left.

Whether you're for or against a full ban, the North Las Vegas council chambers are the place to be because lawmakers want to hear from you.

Public comments were expected to be heard on January 20th, but the power went out halfway through the meeting. So the issue will now be discussed at the February 3rd meeting.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m.