A controversial plan that would have banned the retail sale of dogs and cats throughout Broward County was withdrawn Tuesday after hours of fiery debate from both sides.
The issue could come up again if substantial changes are made to the proposed ordinance.
Commissioner Beam Furr’s proposed ordinance would have banned the breeding and sale of commercially bred cats and dogs from pet shops after a one-year grace period. Animal shelters, rescue groups and hobby breeders would have been exempt. For that reason, the new law would have had little impact on big pet store chains that sell rescue animals obtained from shelters.
An alternative ordinance, proposed this week by Commissioner Lois Wexler, backed away from an outright ban, Instead, it would have required pet stores to get a breeder permit from the county and provide customers with a valid “certificate of origin” and Facility Inspection Report for the place where the cat or dog was bred. Many pet shop owners preferred Wexler’s ordinance, saying it would have little impact on their business.
Critics – including Furr – said Wexler’s plan would be nearly impossible to enforce because many pet stores get their dogs from out-of-state breeders, making it hard for county staff to ensure the animals are being bred in humane conditions.
Wexler argued that people should have a choice of where they buy their pets. Furr argued the ban would protect consumers from buying sick dogs that come from out-of-state puppy mills.
In the end, Furr withdrew the item out of concern Wexler’s weaker ordinance might pass and override cities in Broward that have already passed their own bans. They include Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Dania Beach, Deerfield Beach, Hallandale Beach, Lauderhill, Margate, North Lauderdale, Plantation, Pompano Beach, Sunrise, Tamarac and Wilton Manors.
Commissioner Stacy Ritter, who favored the ban, came close to tears in telling how two of her dogs died at age 6 after being rescued from puppy mills.
“I’m no extremist but I know a bad situation when I see one,” Ritter said. “These cages are small. These dogs can barely turn around. If you have 800 dogs, you are a puppy mill, even if you are licensed [by the USDA].”
Dozens of people spoke for and against the ban.
“We can all have a knee-jerk reaction to save the puppies,” said Roberto Stanziale, an attorney for a pet store owner in Fort Lauderdale.“But a ban is not the way to go. It will drive this underground. You are not going to stop the demand for these kind of puppies.”
Ban supporter Debbie Suftko showed commissioners a photo of her late dog Chili. The dog, purchased from a pet store, suffered from numerous medical issues.
“This is a dog my children could not run around and play with,” she said. “He had eye problems and [paw] problems. I am begging you, please do not let another family go through this same thing.”
Dominick Casale, owner of Diamonds & Doggies in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, said the ban would shut down his store and many others that rely on the sale of puppies.
“Are we now in a communist country?” he asked county commissioners. “Our industry employs hundreds of local people who depend on us. Do you really want to put all of them out of a job?”
Michele Lazarow, a Hallandale Beach commissioner who has championed the puppy mill ban, said she did not consider the county’s decision a defeat.
“We will go back to city by city if the county is not comfortable passing a countywide ban,” Lazarow said. “We would rather this be withdrawn than to see them pass an ordinance that is unenforceable.”
Ron Book, a lawyer and lobbyist for Petland, argued you can’t solve the puppy mill problem with a ban.
“It’s an emotional issue no matter what side you’re on,” Book said. “We are looking for a more rational approach on how to regulate the industry. The root of the problem are the non-USDA regulated puppy mills.”
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