CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pinellas County’s Board of Commissioners has voted to strengthen oversight of retail pet stores.
In December, commissioners voted unanimously to pass an ordinance after years of discussions and workshops.
It comes after officials with Pinellas County Animal Services said a retail pet store in the county lost its license and closed. An investigation revealed that nearly 200 puppies were living in unsanitary conditions.
Investigators said they also found that the store had not reported more than 70 puppy deaths over two years.
With a record number of adoptions, it’s been a busy year for the nonprofit Friends of Strays.
“We’re the oldest no-kill shelter. We take in cats and dogs, mostly from low resource shelters across the state to prevent euthanasia,” said Mo Eppley, chair of the board of directors for Friends of Strays.
While they were busy finding homes for animals, Eppley said they’ve been a voice for more oversight in local retail pet stores.
“A lot of the puppies that come in from the puppy mills where they’re purchased from the businesses, they don’t receive that care there,” Eppley said. “So when any puppy needs boosters, they need medical care. Parasites are easily transmitted.”
But now, Pinellas County commissioners passed an ordinance that Pinellas County Animal Services said will strengthen oversight of retail pet stores.
The ordinance will double unannounced permit inspections from once to twice a year, and facilities will have to have solid flooring for at least half of the kennels.
Puppy deaths will need to be reported in three days instead of 15, among other changes.
“For now, the animals that are in their care to make sure they’re not being neglected and dying needlessly, then these new safety measures and the new inspections will help that,” she said.
Retail pet store, All About Puppies, said they are fully prepared to take on the new rules, but managers want to see forms developed by the county that explain what the expectations are.
Cruelty and neglect violations can face citations and a seven-day permit suspension with an officer follow-up within three days.
“We love what we do, and we are extremely proud of the work that we do,” All About Puppies manager Alexandria Julian said at the commission meeting. “We stand behind our puppies, we stand behind out customers, our breeders, and most of all our word.”
While the ordinance won’t impact Friends of Strays, Eppley said it’s a positive change for animal welfare.
“So, the welfare and the health and safety of the animals, I think should be the most important thing that everyone should care about,” Eppley said. “And now, these businesses have to have those inspections.”
In six months, the Board of County Commissioners will discuss the effectiveness of the ordinance.
During that meeting, they also plan to explore if more retail pet stores should be allowed to open in the county.
Tyler O’Neill
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