Manatee County should join movement, adopt ban on sales of puppy mill pets

Sad to think that Ed Sayres, who once was head of the ASPCA (at $500,000-plus a year), would advocate, still, the archaic notion that animals -- specifically, in this case, dogs -- are property to be mass produced, bought and sold.

Sayres left the ASPCA under a black cloud and was hired to lead the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (over $2 million annually in membership "dues"). In reality, he actually shills for two corporations directly connected to the PIJAC -- Petland (Joe Watson), the largest seller of puppy mill dogs, and the Hunte Corp. (Andrew Hunte/Ryan Boyle), largest broker of puppy mill dogs (nppmwatch.com/AKC.html and animallawcoalition.com/petland-and-hunte-corp-accused-of-illegal-business-and-selling-sick-puppies).

So, it's no wonder, in his recent, grossly misleading and false editorial, that he shamelessly attempts to make his pathetic argument for the continued commodification of dogs and cats in the retail industry.

What Sayres fails to disclose is that while the pet industry takes in over $55 billion in sales annually, the majority of those sales (over $25 billion) comes from pet foods and medicines, while only a little over $2 million comes from the sale of pets.

Sarasota commissioners, along with 35 other cities in Florida and a growing number of cities in the U.S., voted to ban the retail sale of puppy mill dogs and cats in their county this year. This must be what's making PIJAC so nervous; thus, their decision to bring their hired gun, Sayres, on board.

Shame on Manatee County commissioners for voting down the banning ordinance last September. Their level of commitment to ending the chronic overcrowding at the county shelter in Palmetto speaks volumes as they continue to sit on their collective thumbs rather than making the effort to partner with retail stores in getting our shelter and rescue dogs adopted. Manatee County needs to end the sales of puppy mill dogs in our community.

Chrystal Lee

Bradenton

This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee County should join movement, adopt ban on sales of puppy mill pets ."