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The dog sales day could soon be over in Miami. The city commission unanimously voted this morning to pass a six-month moratorium on any new stores selling dogs and cats in the city. The temporary ban will serve as a test run for a possible permanent ordinance. No existing pet stores will be affected by the ban, though.
See also: Miami-Dade Adopting New, Tougher Dog Sale Regulations
The ordinance was introduced by Commissioner Francis Suarez after hearing concerns from animal activists that many of Miami’s pet shops sell dogs from puppy mills.
The law was passed less than a week after the Miami-Dade County Commission passed an ordinance that would require all pet stores to prominently display information about where they get their animals.
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Back in May, the city of North Miami Beach voted to ban the sale of all commercially bred pets within its city limits. That decision affects not just the sale of dogs and cats, but other animals lake hamsters and rabbits.
Though Miami’s nine existing pet stores will continue operate as normal during the ban, code enforcement officers will check in with the establishments to investigate where they get their animals.
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