Manatee Commission chooses not to ban pet stores from selling animals from puppy mills
MANATEE -- An attempt to prohibit pet stores in Manatee County from getting animals from puppy mills didn't move forward Tuesday.
After hearing from more than 30 people for and against such a ban, the Manatee County Commission decided to not move forward with an ordinance to ban pet stores from getting animals from puppy mills. Since it was a work session, commissioners couldn't formally take action.
Commissioner Carol Whitmore had asked commissioners to consider enacting a puppy retail ordinance for Manatee County.
Similar ordinances in other localities restrict pet stores to selling animals from shelters, rescue groups, humane societies and hobby breeders.
While more than 35 municipalities in Florida have adopted similar ordinances, Manatee would have been the first county to do so.
"We were the first county in Florida that at least signed a resolution to support no-kill," Whitmore said. "To be the first county to do this would just, to me, make sense. We kind have been the cutting edge of animal welfare, in my mind, in the state of Florida."
Petland officials, including Petland Bradenton employees, the company president and other corporate officials spoke during the work session held in commission chambers to accommodate the large attendance.
Petland, the only pet store in the county to sell dogs and cats, denied claims its animals are from puppy mills. Neil Benecke, a co-owner of Petland Bradenton, 3530 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton, said 65 percent to 72 percent of store revenues come from selling puppies.
"If this type of ordinance goes through, 21 (employees) are going to be out on the streets. No job. No livelihood," he said.
Joe Watson, president of Petland, said "not a single puppy mill has been shut down due to a pet retail ban that has been passed."
"We applaud the commission's efforts to address the welfare of pets," he said.
A 2009 investigation into Petland stores by the Humane Society of the United States found the country's largest chain of puppy-selling pet stores is also the nation's largest retail supporter of puppy mills, according to the animal protection organization's website.
Manatee County resident Karen Ankerstar said they aren't attacking a pet store.
"We are attacking puppy mill puppies," she said. "The Beneckes can still have their American dream. I'm in this fight against this horrific industry because it's the right thing to do, and commissioners, it's the right thing for you to do."
Lori Filicetti with the rescue Moonracer said plenty of rescues will take the space in the store.
"There is no need to be selling puppy mill dogs," she said. "They are playing on our emotions that their employees are going to be without jobs. ... Let's do something positive for a change. Let's be a leader."
Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said she wants proof the business did something wrong.
"There are a lot of serious allegations made against this business today," Baugh said.
"It's very difficult to sit up here and talk about what we are talking about when we don't have a lot of stuff to stick to it. I don't like puppy mills and I don't like animals abused but I am not going to hurt a business because there is not any proof that they've hurt an animal."
Commissioner Robin DiSabatino said she knows the passion on both sides.
"I hear it," she said. "I don't have any proof that they are abusing animals. ... This is a business in Manatee County. We are a business friendly community. If they were doing anything illegal, we would be the first people to shut it down."
Commission Chairwoman Betsy Benac said she wants to shut down puppy mills.
"I haven't heard that this is the answer and I'm not convinced that this is the answer," she said.
Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter @Claire_Aronson.
This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee Commission chooses not to ban pet stores from selling animals from puppy mills ."