Sarasota County commissioners pass 'puppy mill' ordinance

In a year, people will no longer be able to buy puppies, cats and rabbits from retail stores in Sarasota County.

After a 12-hour commission meeting devoted entirely to the controversial subject, commissioners approved the ban, concluding an effort more than three years in the making.

The ordinance was a response to pet stores allegedly selling pets from puppy mills or through brokers who obtained pets from those breeders.

Opponents who criticized it, said it will drive customers to unregulated sources, such as breeders who sell through the internet and many asked for stricter regulations rather than prohibition. Proponents said breeders did not reliably treat animals humanely, and pet stores didn’t reliably avoid those breeders.

The ordinance prohibits the sale of animals from a retail commercial establishment, flea market and certain public areas. Sarasota County, according to the ordinance, hopes the changes will encourage people to adopt pets from shelters or home-based breeders.

An exemption for hobby or home-based breeders was retained, and limits the number of litters those breeders can have in a year and requires they deal directly with customers rather than provide animals to retail establishments or brokers. That exemption proved contentious, with Commissioner Christine Robinson arguing that it would affect someone like a veterinarian who may sell pets out of his or her office, forcing that person to sell animals from a different location.

The commission agreed to revisit that issue to avoid those unintended consequences.

“I hope (that agreement) mends the very hard feelings that we have with that community,” Robinson said of the expressed intention to reach out to home-based or hobby breeders and craft exceptions for them.

The ordinance includes an amortization period that will allow currently operating retail establishments to continue selling animals until Jan. 27, 2017.

“The ordinance still gives me heartburn. I don't know how — but I think there’s a way to work through it," said Commissioner Carolyn Mason, who voted against the ban.

Commissioners Alan Maio, Paul Caragiulo and Charles Hines voted for the measure, while Mason and Robinson voted against it.

“This is about the protecting the welfare of the animals," Caragiulo said.