Valparaiso doesn't have an ordinance banning the retail sale of cats and dogs. Carmel, Indiana in addition to Hammond, Dyer, Bloomington, and many other cities in Indiana have already banned the retail sale of dogs and cats that don't come from shelters and rescue groups. Research by the ASPCA and many other organizations have linked puppy mills and retail sales of dogs throughout our nation. Cities in Porter County spend thousands tax payer dollars to support the county animal shelter and animal control and all of these homeless animals need a home. The city of Valparaiso needs to pass an ordinance to ban the retail sale of dogs and cats to show we care about adoptable animals in our shelter and to demonstrate they are fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars.