Miami Approves 6-Month Moratorium On New Puppy Stores

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The City of Miami Commission has moved ahead with a plan to ban the sale of puppies at pet shops in the city.

Monday morning, the commission voted 5 – 0 to approve a six-month moratorium on the retail sale of dogs in order to investigate whether pet shops in the city are getting their puppies from puppy mills.

The moratorium will prevent new pet stores from opening in the city for the next six months while commissioners research a potential permanent ban.

Commissioners were pressured by the Animals Rights Foundation of Florida, whose spokesman said retail pet shops get their dogs from puppy mills. These mills are known for mass-breeding puppies in deplorable, unhealthy conditions.

Commissioner Francis Suarez, who proposed the plan, reiterated that the moratorium won't affect any of the currently operating pet shops in the city.

More than 25 municipalities in South Florida have already passed bans on the retail sale of dogs and cats, according to ARFF.

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