PetO, Australia’s third-largest pet retailer, has announced the cessation of live animal sales across all 58 of its stores located in New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania. This significant policy shift, which unfolded from May onwards, has now been fully implemented.
A representative from PetO explained to 9news.com.au that the decision was made with the intent to inspire other pet retailers in Australia to adopt similar ethical practices. The spokesperson emphasised that the sale and transportation of live animals often raises ethical concerns, including potential animal welfare issues and the risk of fostering irresponsible pet ownership.
While the spokesperson acknowledged that this decision might affect PetO’s short-term commercial performance, they remain optimistic about the long-term benefits it could bring, aligning with the company’s ambitious target of achieving $250 million in annual revenue by 2028. PetO’s commitment to bettering industry standards reflects a growing trend towards prioritising animal welfare in the retail space.