Pinellas County commissioners discussed new regulations for retail pet stores on Tuesday evening after county animal services issued nearly 400 citations to local pet stores over the past year.

Animal welfare advocates have pointed to repeated violations involving housing conditions, sanitation, and treatment of sick animals as the reason for the proposed regulatory changes.

Background

While neighboring Hillsborough and Pasco counties banned retail dog and cat stores in 2020, and St. Petersburg later enacted its own ban, pet stores continue operating in other parts of Pinellas County.

In October, Elizabeth Olson, founder of the Animal Justice Task Force, reviewed county records and found widespread violations, including employees diagnosing and treating sick animals without veterinary credentials, overcrowded cages, lack of water, and failure to isolate ill dogs.

Blue Sky Puppies had its pet dealer permit revoked and was forced to close in July after accumulating nearly 300 citations. Sunshine Puppies received more than 90 citations across its Largo and Clearwater locations for sanitation issues and failing to isolate a dog with an airborne disease. The owner of Sunshine Puppies did not respond to requests for comment.

Proposed Regulations

The regulations under consideration would:

• Increase inspections from once to twice annually
• Require solid flooring in kennels
• Mandate written protocols for cleaning, sanitation, disasters, and isolation
• Require enrichment activities and documented veterinary care
• Display veterinary inspection records on each kennel

The proposal would also reinforce Florida’s Pet Lemon Law, which requires sellers to accurately disclose a pet’s breed, sex, and health status to buyers.

What Advocates Say

Olson described the changes as “fair upgrades of standards” and said the proposal aims to improve conditions rather than force businesses to close. She is encouraging public input ahead of the vote.

The Pinellas County Commission meeting was held Tuesday night.

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