July 10, 2020
On July 16, 2020, the Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing to consider an Ordinance banning the retail sale of dogs and cats. This is being done in response to the increase in the commercial sale of dogs and cats which have been bred under conditions which are cruel and endanger the health of the animal.
Commercial “puppy mills” and “kitten factories” are of particular concern because the animals are used solely for commercial gain and bred at substandard breeding facilities, resulting in health, social and/or temperament problems. In addition to congenital and hereditary conditions resulting from substandard breeding facilities, dogs and cats bred at these facilities may arrive in pet stores or new homes with giardia, parvovirus, and distemper. These illnesses can be transferred to healthy family animals.
The Ordinance under consideration was drafted with input from local and national animal welfare groups including the Humane Society and Nassau County Animal Services. The Ordinance will encourage pet consumers to adopt dogs or cats from shelters or home-based breeders, thereby promoting consumer protection, saving animals’ lives, and reducing the cost to the public of sheltering and euthanizing animals.
The prohibitions of the Ordinance would not apply to animal shelters, local breeders, animal welfare organizations, adoption of animals, or bona fide agricultural activities protected under the Florida Right to Farm Act.
A copy of the Ordinance can be located on the July 16th agenda found here. You may also request a copy by contacting the Nassau County Attorney’s Office at (904) 530-6100.