Seminole County is considering a ban on retail dog stores

Seminole County may put an end to designer puppy stores, which are often criticized for getting their dogs from from inhumane "puppy mills."

A public hearing will be held at the Seminole County Services Building at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, on an ordinance that would essentially restrict the retail sales of dogs and cats.

The proposed ordinance would ban dog and cat sales at retail stores, but still allow local breeders to continue to sell animals directly to the public. The ordinance would also ban animals from being sold at flea markets, alongside roads or in parking lots, as well as allow for pet supply stores to provide space for rescue animals.

If passed, Seminole County would join 50 other Florida communities that have restricted retail pet sales, including Hillsborough County, Palm Beach County and Sarasota County.

The Animal Rights Foundation of Florida is applauding the ordinance. "The pet sales ordinance will save animals’ lives by encouraging people to adopt dogs and cats from Seminole County's animal shelter and rescue groups, and potentially reduce the cost to taxpayers of sheltering animals," said ARFF coordinator and Seminole County resident Bryan Wilson.