County shutters pet store after puppy deaths

Pinellas County Animal Services has revoked a puppy store’s pet dealer permit after investigators found an overwhelming number of local regulatory violations.

Blue Sky Puppies was one of six retailers allowed to operate in the county. Animal services officers eventually realized that dozens of deaths occurred at the shop on Ulmerton Road.

The permit holder received myriad citations following the investigation. Jennifer Renner, director of Pinellas County Animal Services, said the owner could also face criminal charges.

“In the last two years, we’ve only had one other animal welfare violation – the rest were all administrative,” Renner told the Catalyst. “So, this is the first case that we’ve investigated at this magnitude.”

The case began July 9 when animal services received a complaint that Blue Sky had sold sick puppies and kept them in unsanitary, crowded kennels. Officers arrived at the store the next day to find 177 puppies.

Some kennels had empty water bottles; others had none and no food bowls. Over 30 puppies were in kennels that were too small.

Many of the puppies lacked adequate water.

Isolation ward enclosures housed sick puppies that were too close to healthy animals. When officers asked for veterinary records for 23 quarantined puppies, the store manager said staff self-diagnosed and treated them despite not holding any medical degrees.

“I have the utmost confidence in our enforcement team,” Renner said. “When we receive any sort of complaint, they go there very quickly to make sure we are protecting animal welfare, which is, of course, our primary job duty for the county.”

The investigation took a turn for the worse when animal services began examining treatment sheets. Investigators found paperwork for a missing Yorkie puppy, and Blue Sky employees subsequently admitted they took it to a local veterinary hospital for cremation after it died.

Interviews with the veterinary office uncovered that the store had delivered dozens of dead puppies for cremation over the past two years without notifying animal services. Blue Sky’s staff could not provide the associated medical records as required by county code.

“It certainly is concerning,” Renner said of the deaths. “That is why we did everything we could to investigate, to ensure that we had all the information and evidence we needed in order to revoke the permit. And make sure we were doing everything we possibly could to protect the animals.”

She noted that puppy stores have 15 days to notify animal services of a death and provide documentation highlighting the cause. When asked if the owner could face criminal charges, Renner said her department is “collaborating with other agencies. That is a possibility.”

County documents list Lawrence Master of North Miami Beach as a suspect and animal owner. Florida business records name another limited liability corporation, Sarasota-based Cindy’s Florida LLC, as the registered agent. The “authorized person” is Great Pets Five Star Investment LLC, which has a Wyoming address.

Blue Sky Puppies is at 6160 Ulmerton Rd. in Clearwater, although the plaza is closer to Largo. Image: Google.

Pinellas commissioners banned new pet retailers in April 2022 while allowing six existing stores – four centrally located around Largo, including Blue Sky – to remain in business. They discussed enhancing regulations in February.

Commissioner Kathleen Peters said statistics prove that “we don’t have a problem in our retail stores. I would like to see us bring back that old ordinance and maybe repeal it, because I don’t think it’s necessary to be so restrictive on a business that could thrive in this county.”

Pinellas County would lack a sanctioned puppy store if the remaining five cease operations. “At this point, we are only working toward strengthening the ordinance,” Renner said. “No revisions have been made to the grandfathering clause.”

She recommends that people first check a shelter when considering a new pet. Florida also has a “Pet Lemon Law” that allows consumers to return a sick puppy within 15 days of purchase.

Blue Sky also has a location in Clermont, near Orlando.

“It’s just really important to reassure the public that we are doing everything possible to protect animal welfare in the county,” Renner said. “And if they see an animal being mistreated, please call or email us.”

Residents with concerns can call Pinellas County Animal Services at (727) 582-2600 or send an email here.