Sessions planned next week in North County and South County will focus on new regulations
During two upcoming public workshops, Sarasota County staff will present details and gather community comments about the county ordinance adopted early this year that addresses commercial sales of pets, the county has announced.
On a 3-2 vote in late January, the County Commission amended the animal control section of the County Code “to address dogs and cats that may have been bred and housed at substandard facilities, known as ‘puppy mills’ or ‘kitten factories’” that mass-produce animals for sale to the public, a news release explains. “The code is intended to prohibit the sale of such dogs and cats, which have a higher rate of health, social and/or temperament problems,” the release adds. The regulations affect commercial establishments, such as pet stores, but they include exemptions for hobby breeders, animal shelters and animal welfare organizations, the release notes.
The new ordinance allows hobby breeders to continue to sell dogs and cats from their homes, but such sales would not be permitted at pet shops, veterinary offices, kennels or other commercial establishments, the release adds. To view the full ordinance, visit www.scgov.net and use the keyword “Planning Services.”
The public workshops will be held at 6 p.m. on May 16 in the Commission Chambers at the Sarasota County Administration Building, located at 1660 Ringling Blvd. in downtown Sarasota; and at 6 p.m. on May 17, in the Commission Chambers at the Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, located at 4000 S. Tamiami Trail in Venice.
For more information, call 861-5000 or email planner@scgov.net.