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Pinellas officials consider additional puppy stores, regulations
At least one Pinellas County official would like to increase the number of allowable puppy stores as commissioners consider modifying industry regulations.
The county commission banned new pet retailers in April 2022 while allowing six existing stores – four centrally located in Largo – to remain in business. The animal services department provided a long-planned update on potential regulatory changes at a Feb. 20 workshop.
Puppy-focused ordinance enhancements would intensify retailer requirements and county enforcement. However, multiple commissioners believe the penalties would unnecessarily harm store owners.
“I don’t want to be anti-business on this,” said Commissioner Kathleen Peters. “And since the demand is so high, I wouldn’t even mind expanding retail stores.”
Jennifer Renner, interim director of Animal Services, said the formal recommendations would strengthen animal welfare standards in retail puppy stores. The ordinances also apply to between 50 and 80 hobby breeders.
Six local retail stores sold 4,800 puppies in 2024, with 48% going to non-residents. Animal services received just three consumer protection complaints, all related to health issues.
The department investigated 22 animal welfare complaints and issued eight citations to retailers. Renner said seven were related to missing or inaccurate information on point-of-sale forms or health certificates.
The county issued a $148 citation to the owner of Sunshine Puppies after a husky puppy died in July 2024 due to a lack of veterinary care. Renner said the dog likely had distemper, a highly contagious viral disease.
“After the death of the husky puppy … we performed randomized inspections of all six retail pet stores,” Renner explained. “We did not find any additional violations.”
She added that animal services received a one-sentence necropsy report on the dead puppy, “basically saying” the cause of death was unknown. The incident influenced some of the proposed ordinance modifications.
Renner said Pinellas retailers source puppies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) commercial breeding facilities. However, she noted an inspector general’s inability to inspect 2,400 facilities annually or “follow up on” over 800 violations.
County officials prefer retailers to buy puppies from Purdue University Canine Care-certified breeders, which prioritizes behavioral health and quality of life. About 25% of the 2,400 USDA-approved facilities have this more stringent certification.
Renner recommended only allowing retailers to source puppies from Purdue-certified breeders within 12 months of the ordinance changes. Animal services would also increase unannounced inspections from once to twice annually.
“I love the idea of it, but there’s only 25% that are certified,” said Commissioner Chair Brian Scott. “How stable is that program … are we now putting them in a situation where they’re set up for failure?”
Proposed new enforcement measures. Screengrab.
The proposed changes include additional administrative reporting and consumer information requirements. Renner also wants puppy deaths with no diagnosis to trigger a mandatory necropsy from an independent agency.
She asked the board to increase fines from $148 for a first offense to a $500 flat rate. Renner also recommended suspending pet dealer permits for up to 14 days after an animal welfare violation.
She said that would allow officials to mitigate the spread of a potentially contagious disease. “I understand what you’re trying to do, but wow, shutting down a person’s business for 14 days … I couldn’t get behind that,” said Commissioner Chris Scherer.
The enhanced penalties would allow animal services to revoke pet dealer permits indefinitely after two suspensions within two years. Commissioner Dave Eggers was the lone advocate on the board.
“I don’t think anything here is over the top,” Eggers said. “The 14 days is not over the top because we’re not saying it is 14 days. We’re waiting to see what the problem and what the infection exposure is, and if it’s five days, we get going right away.”
He believes scrupulous retailers should welcome enhanced regulations and cameras in their stores, which helped uncover the husky puppy’s death. Eggers also noted that Manatee County reinstated its ban on new puppy retailers and will use the current local ordinance as a model.
However, Peters said just 22 complaints and eight citations – mostly administrative – amid 4,800 dogs sold last year proves that “our retailers are not bad actors.”
“That tells me we don’t have a problem in our retail stores,” Peters continued. “And again, 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.”
Administrator Barry Burton said Renner would consider a tiered enforcement approach considering the commission’s comments. He will then advertise a public hearing regarding potential ordinance modifications.
David Dunn
March 3, 2025at12:19 pm
Ms. Peter’s has lost her mind! This women would be in favor of any business, even those that are illegal in the county as long as they call themselves a business. Perhaps someone can open up a brothel in Pasadena(District 6) where she lives. I wonder how many of her constituents agree with her wanting to increase additional puppy mill stores in the county? My guess is ZERO. Time to go Peters.
Warren Patitz
March 2, 2025at10:13 am
“And since the demand is so high, I wouldn’t even mind expanding retail stores.”
The demand for politicians like Ms. Peters is what is too high. She could care less that Florida is the state with the 4th highest number of animal shelter kills in the country https://total.vet/animal-shelter-statistics/
Ms. Peters should know that this dog breeder accreditation/certification program is being funded by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) which has rebranded under the name Pet Advocacy Network.
Chris Fleming, co-owner of Pinnacle Pet, the puppy broker and supplier of inventory for Sunshine Puppies, is a non-paid officer of PIJAC. Mr. Fleming, through Pinnacle Pet and their newly-formed 501(c)(3) called “A Dog’s Dream,” partnered with the SPCA Tampa Bay for the agency to sell (at inflated prices) no longer profitable puppy mill dogs and Imperfect puppies.
Follow the money.
SPCA Tampa Bays CEO Martha. Boden co-presented with Mr. Flemming at last years Purdue Canine Welfare Science Forum in support of the commercial breeding industry (AKA puppy mills).
Here is more disturbing news on this Canine Care Certification. Dr. Candace Croney, Professor & Director of Animal Welfare Science at Purdue University, has refused to make the Canine Care Certification standards of humane care public. She informed the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation that the standards were proprietary information. Even more disturbing, the USDA has indicated that it would consider reducing the frequency of inspections at Canine Care Certified facilities.
Lauren
February 27, 2025at2:03 pm
Everyone seems to be missing the core issue behind these regulations. Florida ranks 5th in the nation for euthanizing adoptable animals. This ordinance is designed to promote shelter adoptions instead of increasing the number of dogs through breeding—dogs that would ultimately add to this overpopulation crisis and lead to even more euthanasia. How has this critical point been completely overlooked?
Paul
February 26, 2025at9:47 am
This is Kathleen Peter’s worst idea ever. As the owner of a great dog that came from a shelter (no-kill thankfully), by way of a puppy mill (uh, sorry “retailer”), I can say that we need fewer outlets, not more. Oversight of puppy breeders is impossible. Their motive is profit. Taking one of God’s creatures, each with a unique personality and need for love and approval and using it to make money is an inherently bad idea that gets worse when profits inevitably get squeezed. I hope that every animal lover will take 5 minutes out of their day and call or email Pinellas County commissioners urging them to never even consider this action
Erika
February 25, 2025at5:13 pm
For the sake of animal welfare, existing regulations should not be rescinded—if anything, additional measures should be welcomed. Shelters and humane societies are already overwhelmed, struggling to manage the growing number of abandoned and surrendered animals. Allowing more pet stores would only add to this burden, further straining an already taxed system. Instead, stricter regulations should be placed on breeding operations to curb excessive and deceptive practices that contribute to overpopulation.
Despite recent expansions and renovations from 2023 to 2024 aimed at improving infrastructure, shelters in Pinellas County continue to face significant challenges. The Humane Society of Pinellas alone cares for over 2,600 animals annually, highlighting the persistent demand for resources and space. While these developments signal progress, shelters remain on high alert, carefully managing capacity to prevent becoming overwhelmed.
Mo Eppley
February 25, 2025at4:23 pm
This is a horrible idea.
Dane
February 25, 2025at2:18 pm
Canine Care Certified has about 6% of the USDA licensed commercial dog breeders, not 25%. No one knows what the CCC standards are because they won’t release them. It’s suspicious.