Banning Harmful Pet Sale Practices
On June 22, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners passed an ordinance banning retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in Orange County. Often, the sale of these animals is fraudulent, predatory, and cruel.
Many of the stores which sell these animals do not vet their providers and source their puppies from unethical puppy mills out of state. Several stores which sold puppies in Orange County sourced animals from mills and breeders on the Humane Society’s “Horrible 100 List.”
Additionally, these puppies may be sold for exorbitant prices and may be sick, often only allowed to see the store vet for the first two weeks. While the vet may still care for the animal, the consumer’s rights under Florida’s Lemon Law expire. So, not only are consumers left heartbroken with sick puppies, but they are scammed.
I was honored to help champion this ordinance and then defend it in front of Ocoee in October of 2021, while they granted a special exception for a store in their municipal boundaries.