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On Tuesday, August 10, the Manatee County (FL) Board of County Commissioners are scheduled to vote on a proposed animal ordinance that seeks to ban the sale of dogs and cats by “commercial establishments.”

This not only would ban sales of dogs and cats in pet stores, it would ban the sale of a dog by any person who is currently—or in the future might be required to be—licensed as a business and who allows access by a member of the public regarding the sale of a dog or cat.

The proposed ordinance:

  • Bans many sales of dogs and cats, except by shelters and rescues. It would prohibit a “commercial establishment” from engaging in the retail sale of a dog or cat. “Commercial establishment” is defined as a business which is open to the public, whether by appointment or during reoccurring business hours. “Retail sale” is defined as the auction, barter, display for sale, offer for sale, or selling of any animal. Animal shelters and animal welfare organizations are exempted.

    Please note that requirements for pet breeders and sellers to be licensed as businesses—including a person who breeds a single litter in their lifetime—have already been enacted in other communities throughout Florida. Moreover, enactment of this restriction may be an incremental step toward banning future sales of all dogs in Manatee County, if, for instance, any future action at the federal, state, county, or city level of government would require a business license in order to breed or sell a dog.

  • Could affect dog events, including shows, exhibitions, and public education events. The ordinance would prohibit the “display” of any live dog or cat on an outdoor area open to the public, such as parks or recreation areas, and on public common areas. It is unclear if this could be enforced to prohibit AKC events and public education activities with dogs that are held in certain public locations. This provision, in proposed Sec. 2-4-2, must be clarified to mean, “display for sale”.
  • Increases risks for both buyers and sellers. A person, whether a breeder or not, who wished to sell a dog would be prohibited from selling, displaying for sale, or offering for sale a dog or cat on any public common area or parking lot. The American Kennel Club does not support selling dogs in parking lots; however, this would prohibit a person from meeting with a potential buyer to discuss a sale or from finalizing the sale of a dog or cat in a designated Safe Sale location established by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office to protect the safety of buyers and sellers.

Concerned Parties: Take Action IMMEDIATELY

Use this online form to submit your comment of opposition to the proposed animal ordinance (click the link and scroll down). Submit your comment before the deadline of 2:00pm on Friday, August 6. Begin your comment with a clear statement of opposition, for example, “I strongly oppose the proposed animal ordinance that seeks to regulate sales of dogs and cats.”

Please also reach out to other cat and dog owners in the county and ask them to submit comments of opposition. Every concerned resident is urged to take five minutes before 2:00 on Friday to make their opinions known.

Inquire if you can attend and/or speak at the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, by contacting the Agenda Coordinator at (941) 745-3724 or by email at bcc.agenda@mymanatee.org. Also ask if you can be recognized to speak remotely during the meeting, by phone, or by video conference. The animal ordinance is scheduled to be considered at 1:30pm on Tuesday.

Contact county commissioners directly to state your concerns and ask them to VOTE NO on the animal ordinance:

COMMISSIONER JAMES SATCHER, DISTRICT ONE
Phone: (941) 745-3701
Fax: (941) 745-3790
Email: james.satcher@mymanatee.org

COMMISSIONER REGGIE BELLAMY, DISTRICT TWO
Phone: (941) 745-3702
Fax: (941) 745-3790
Email: reggie.bellamy@mymanatee.org

COMMISSIONER KEVIN VAN OSTENBRIDGE, DISTRICT THREE
Phone: (941) 745-3705
Fax: (941) 745-3790
Email: kevin.vanostenbridge@mymanatee.org

COMMISSIONER MISTY SERVIA, DISTRICT FOUR
Phone: (941) 745-3713
Fax: (941) 745-3790
Email: misty.servia@mymanatee.org

CHAIRMAN VANESSA BAUGH, DISTRICT FIVE
Phone: (941) 745-3703
Fax: (941) 745-3790
Email: vanessa.baugh@mymanatee.org

COMMISSIONER CAROL WHITMORE, AT LARGE
Phone: (941) 745-3704
Cell: (941) 718-0038
Fax: (941) 745-3790
Email: carol.whitmore@mymanatee.org

COMMISSIONER GEORGE KRUSE, AT LARGE
Phone: (941) 745-3714
Fax: (941) 745-3790
Email: george.kruse@mymanatee.org

For additional information, please contact AKC Government Relations at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.