No new stores that sell certain pets will be allowed to open in Manatee County and existing pet sellers and breeders will face stricter regulations under new rules passed unanimously Tuesday by county leaders.

Supporters of the ban say that pet sales for profit lead to the mistreatment of animals and discourage adoption of shelter dogs and cats.

Despite extensive debate and concerns from some commissioners over parts of the ban, the board voted 7-0 in favor.

Several commissioners said the new ban has flaws but argued it’s a starting place to address concerns about animal welfare.

Commissioner Amanda Ballard compared it to the county regulating “sexually-oriented businesses” like strip clubs. Commissioner Jason Bearden questioned whether a retail pet sale ban was constitutional.

Mike Beltran, a former state representative and Tampa-based attorney, spoke during public comment on behalf of Petland. Two of the three stores that sell cats and dogs in Manatee are Petland franchises. “This is a compromise, which we appreciate,” Beltran said.

But he said the chain has some concerns about the ordinance, including the downsizing requirements if a business moves. He also questioned whether parts of the ordinance regarding vaccines requirements clash with state law and hinted the county could see legal challenges.

Animal welfare advocates praised the rule changes but some said they would still like to see a complete ban in the future.

What does the ban do?

• No new stores that sell cats or dogs are allowed to open, effective immediately.
• The county’s three existing pet sale retailers can continue selling animals but face new restrictions, including licensing and inspection requirements and new vaccine and health requirements for animals. They cannot expand, and if they relocate, it must be to a smaller building with less retail pet space. The right to sell pets is transferred if one of the businesses is sold.
• The ban does not apply to retailers like PetSmart, which don’t sell dogs and cats, but instead facilitate adoptions from local shelters through their stores.
• Small-scale pet breeders can continue to operate but face stricter regulations. To keep an active license, breeders will be subject to an unannounced inspection within 60 days of their license expiring. They must also only sell pets from the address associated with their license and advertisements about pets for sale must include a breeder’s license number.
• Breeders and pet stores must report all dog and cat sales to the county.

“The purpose of this is to improve our animal welfare standards (and) support a healthier and safer community,” said Sarah Brown, the  county’s veteran and community services director. “It builds on the ordinance that we put in place last year requiring the inspections of stores and breeders.”

Tuesday’s vote comes after years of back-and-forth over whether retail pet sales should be allowed in the county.

In 2021, Manatee passed an outright ban on retail pet sales. The ban followed years of advocacy from animal welfare supporters who pointed to evidence some pet retailers were supplied by “puppy mills” with inhumane practices. It gave the two pet retailers operating in the county at the time one year to end sales.

But when the county faced a lawsuit from two local Petland franchises, commissioners overturned the ban in 2023. Then last year, commissioners passed tougher rules and inspection requirements for large-scale pet stores and breeders after hearing reports about local animal abuse from county staff.

After last year’s election brought a change of board members, Commissioner George Kruse moved in February to research options for a new pet sale ban and the board voted unanimously to do so. The new rules are modeled after Pinellas County language that grandfathers in existing retailers.