Seminole County in Florida has passed an ordinance that bans pet shops from selling dogs and cats obtained from puppy mills and kitten factories.
Joining 58 other localities that have introduced similar statues throughout Florida, this ordinance goes a step further by banning people from selling dogs and cats in public areas such as parks, flea markets, yard sales and parking areas.
The Orlando Sentinel reports that although there are currently no pet stores that sell dogs and cats from mills in the area, the ban will encourage potential pet owners to adopt animals in need from shelters and rescue centers.
“This is to steer toward an adoption-based model for pets,” Assistant County Manager Meloney Lung said. “No one wants to have a dog or cat be euthanized.”
Commissioner Lee Constantine praised his fellow commissioners for unanimously endorsing the ordinance.
“This is an insidious business: puppy mills, I’m so glad that we’ve taken the task of a ban today.”
Although this is a fantastic move by Seminole County, there is a concerning tax-amendment package which may make it impossible for local governments to ban the sale of cats and dogs from puppy mills and kitten factories. The bill is intended to stop local governments from banning the sale of taxable personal property, but the vague wording it troublesome.
“Under the law, animals are still considered personal property,” Lindsay Larris, attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund said.
Ken Hagan, Commissioner for Hillsborough County is concerned about the effects of this new bill.
“I championed the ordinance so puppy mills could be eradicated,” he said. “I’m hopeful the language can be amended to allow local governments to protect their residents.”
These local statutes are extremely important in helping to stop the cruel and inhumane treatment of the animals mass-produced in awful conditions for the pet industry. Once they are in place, local governments can follow through and prosecute pet stores who break the rules.
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Bravo, another state has come through banning puppy/kitten mills!
GREAT NEWS **HANK YOU !!!
This is great to hear!
J’espère qu’il vont tenir heure promesse
I suspect that like most other laws that prohibit citizens from enjoying their freedom to do as they please this ban will be forced to go underground black market. I prefer if they would have instead taxed them so much and use the money to spay and neuter all animals free of charge. They should have instead ban the selling of any pet not spayed or neutered.
THIS IS INCREDIBLY A W E S O M E !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Florida!!!! Thank you everyone that has spent their lives fighting for animals rights!!! Thank you government officials for stepping out of the old blind thinking of animals not
Hallelujah Seminole County Florida and thank you for going the extra mile banning people from going to public places and such to sell their animals! That ordinance surely does need to be amended to change the wording so as no longer “consider” animals as “personal property”. They can’t be claimed on taxes unless they are service animals so they are not taxable and therefore not “personal property”. That’s just plain wrong! I’d never consider our dogs as personal property no more than I would our children!
Thank God they finally woke up!!!
Very wise decision and many thanks to this Florida county. With all the dogs in shelters, a puppy mill is not needed. I pray all other states and counties will enact the same thoughtful measures. Seminole County, FL you are awesome! Two thumbs up to you.
I agree please other states follow this VERY GOOD example.
I am SO happy!! I live in Seminole County, FL .
Super duper fantastic!! May it all continue through all states
This is wonderful – hope it spreads to whole state, and country
Congratulations. I hope ther tax amendment package doesn’t undermine it.
Fantastic, now needs to go nation wide.
Amen, Jeanne Crabb. Well said.
Well, banning the sale of puppys & kittens in just ONE county is better than none at all, but for heaven sake, people of Florida, work together and get the BAN in place throughout the state of Florida!!! California recently passed a Measure that will BAN the sale of dogs, cats & rabbits in Pet Stores UNLESS those Pets come from animal shelters……AND, Governor Brown signed it into Law. The rest of the states can accomplish the same thing. Contact your lawmakers and urge them…..DEMAND, that they do the same as California.
Marvelous!!!!!