Animal rights advocates protested outside a pet shop in San Marcos calling for a ban on stores selling pets from puppy mills.
The group held signs right in front of the Mini Toy Puppies store.
They claim the owner, David Salinas, sells pets from puppy mills.
“What we're trying to do is prevent any puppies that are raised in puppy mills, which come from deplorable conditions, from being sold in a pet store,” Leslie Davies said.
The protest comes two days before San Marcos city leaders vote on an ordinance that would ban the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits.
Animal advocates have protested outside other pet stores owned by Salinas, which ended up closing their doors.
10News previously obtained home video showing the dogs being unloaded from a truck.
Salinas told 10News, his dogs come from licensed breeders and that customers have the right to choose where to get their pet.
“We work so hard to work with excellent breeders, we work so hard to provide a wonderful experience to our customers, provide them quality puppies with great warranties, but it's unfair to the general public,” Salinas said.
Protesters hope San Marcos follows Oceanside and San Diego's lead and bans pet shops from selling cats, dogs, or rabbits if they do not come from a shelter or humane society.
“This does not go after the legitimate breeders but it will prevent dogs who are raised in puppy mills from being sold in our city,” Davies said.
