Ban on Pet Sales

Summary of the article

The article "San Francisco Considers Banning of Pets Except Fish" by Carolyn Jones is about San Francisco's Commission of Animal Control and Welfare is proposing a law to ban selling companion animals at pet stores in San Francisco, including dogs, cats, hamsters, mice, rats, chinchillas, guinea pigs, birds, snakes, lizards and critters, except fish.

Commission Chairwoman Sally Stephens states (says) that many people buying (are buying) these small animals on impulse, and many of them end up at shelters and are being euthanized. That's what they want to prevent.

Per (According to) staff of shelters and rescue groups, the main issue is not cats and dogs. It is hamsters. Hamster is the No. 1 animal being euthanized at shelters. Many people buy hamsters on impulse because they are cute and cuddly, and not knowing hamsters are prone to biting, gnawing and racing on their exercised wheel at 2 a.m. in the morning. Shelter staffs are concerned many hamsters are being euthanized especially babies.

Many pet store owners argue that the proposal to ban pet stores from selling pets is ridiculous -- a pet store can't sell pets -- and it will hurt their businesses. 

The commission will listen to testimony from pet store owners and others before voting. Commissioner Philip Gerrie said they're still in the information-gathering phrase. The final decision will be on the Broad of Supervisor.

Summary of the First Response

Ken White, President of Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA, posted a response, titled “The no pets in Pet Store Proposal”, to the article saying that there is nothing silly or ridiculous about the proposal when it is concerning the suffering and death of animals. It is worth of a discussion.

He stated that even though the article saying that cats and dogs are not the issue, in fact it is. He said that on average San Francisco is adopting about 45-50% of sheltered dog and cats. The rest is are euthanized.

He also stated that some animals are being neglected while reside in the pet stores. Usually these animals are not selling for a profile, especially for the big stores. These animals are give aways, and the store owner will profit from the sales of tanks, cages, foods, books, etc. He believed it is good for the animals to ban selling of these animal in pet stores.

Summary of the second response

"Banning Pet Stores in SF: A Solution in Search of a Problem" by Michael Yaki, Attorney and Political Consultant, is a response to the proposal of banning animal sell in San Francisco. He believe the proposal is ridicuous and ill-thought. He said, "The impulse to care for another creature is not going to be bound by whether you can buy it in the city of Richmond or the Richmond District." He also claimed that the proposal is little hyprocrisy. If a commission is concern  with the welfare of animal, then why exclude fish and feeder animals like baby mice and crickets.

My Response

I find the proposal to ban the commercial selling of animal in San Francisco is ill-thought out. I share the same opinion with Mr. Yaki on that buying an animal on impulse is not bound by where someone can get it. If the intent of the proposal is to prevent people from buying on impulse, I don’t believe banning animal sell in pet store would prevent that. Nowadays, many people are buying on Craigslist.  Does it mean that these people are not buying on impulse? No. Is there a guarantee that these people won’t end up sending their pet from Craigslist to one of the shelter? No, I don’t think so. According to the article, the major reason many animals end up in shelter is that people don’t know what they’ve signed up for when they buy a pet. If that is the reason, wouldn’t be requiring the pet store owner and staff to be more explicitly explain and educate customers on  the animal behavior and required care more effective?

*****

Very nice job of summarizing all three articles and expressing your own opinion on the issue!  Also good job of using adverbial clauses and if-clauses in particular.  Since they were the focus of this week's work, I will comment on them first.
Adverbial Clauses

1.  He stated that even though the article saying says that cats and dogs are not the issue, in fact it is.

• The verb in the even though clause must be in the simple present form.

2.  He also stated that some animals are being neglected while reside in the pet stores.

• The verb in the while clause requires a subject: while they are in the pet stores. I would add that the verb reside makes it a more comfortable experience than I think it is for the animals.

3.  If a commission is concern  with the welfare of animal, then why exclude fish and feeder animals like baby mice and crickets.

• The form should be concerned here.  This is an adjective that comes from the past participle form of the verb concern.

3.  Ken White, President of Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA, posted a response, titled “The no pets in Pet Store Proposal”, to the article saying that there is nothing silly or ridiculous about the proposal when it is concerning the suffering and death of animals.

• The verb should be in the simple present:  concerns.

4.  If that is the reason, wouldn’t be requiring the pet store owner and staff to be more explicitly explain and educate customers on  the animal behavior and required care be more effective?

• This is a complicated sentence!  Basically the verb is require followed by an object (someone) followed by the infinitive (to do) something.

Your first sentence was a good effort to include the essential information in one sentence.  You needed to use a noun instead of a clause, though:  proposal instead of is proposing...

The article "San Francisco Considers Banning of Pets Except Fish" by Carolyn Jones is about the proposal of San Francisco's Commission of Animal Control and Welfare is proposing a law to ban selling the sale of companion animals at pet stores in San Francisco, including dogs, cats, hamsters, mice, rats, chinchillas, guinea pigs, birds, snakes, lizards and critters, except fish. 

The sale of pets in pet stores

• I don’t believe banning animal sell in pet store would prevent that.

This activity is referred to as sales as opposed to selling. Note also that in generalizations the plural form is commonly used.
Passive reminder:  Usually these animals are not selling being sold for a profile, especially for the big stores.