Florida County has Six Puppy Shops and a Store with Rabbits
Pinellas County commissioners will vote on Tuesday morning, June 7, 2022 on an ordinance to ban the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits. Despite our compelling investigative evidence, some of the commissioners are leaning toward grandfathering in the six pet shops that sell puppies and one that sell rabbits.
CAPS investigated the four Pinellas County, Florida pet shops selling puppies and one selling rabbits, birds, chicks, ducks, and other animals in August 2021. Subsequent to our investigation, two more puppy-selling pet shops opened. In December, county commissioners approved a moratorium on the opening of additional pet shops.
The director of Pinellas County Animal Services recommended a grandfather clause despite the county having only a 76 and 72 percent live release rate for dogs and cats respectively in February 2021 (the only data that seems to be available online). For the same month, Hillsborough County’s rates were nearly 94 percent and 89 percent. Hillsborough County, Florida realized that grandfathering in pet shops doesn’t work and adopted a full ban last year.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
- Pinellas County residents: please contact the commissioner in your district immediately to urge him/her to completely ban the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits.
- Attend the commission meeting, which starts at 9:30 am, Tuesday, June 7 either in person or virtually on Zoom
- Share this blog
- Adopt and/or foster an animal from Pinellas County Animal Services
