Cook County commissioners passed an ordinance Wednesday restricting the retail sales of animals obtained from large-scale commercial breeders.
The ordinance includes the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits bred in so-called puppy mills or kitten factories.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said it's important to distinguish that not all dogs and cats that are products of commercial breeders are subject to inhumane conditions.
"Our goal once we were informed that the ordinance was going to be introduced, was to help craft an ordinance that would protect the animals from being bred in unhealthy or overpopulated environments and have a positive impact on shelters and rescues, find good homes for pets in need of them, and be enforceable under the powers the state confers on the county," Preckwinkle said.
The ban goes into effect on Oct. 1, and it similar to the Chicago ban passed last month.
