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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Maria Levant-Speaking PointsSubmitted into the publi record f6f ite (s) .� Puppy mill speaking points: on 1 City Clerk In support of the City of Miami's anti -puppy mill legislation 7-26-17. • Thank you very much for considering an ordinance which will significantly improve the lives of many animals, dogs in particular, that are strictly used for breeding and then discarded. • Our office has also been working on similar legislation that we plan to bring to committee for a first reading sometime in the Fall. • ve been researching puppy mills and have found alarming information regarding the conditions inside these breeding facilities. • 99% of all pet shops get their puppies from "puppy mills". Puppy Mills are substandard breeding facilities which mass produce animals for sale to the public, many of which are sold in retail pet stores. • This issue is a matter of public concern, safety and welfare. This is a business steeped in consumer fraud and cruelty. • There are currently 220 sales bans in the U.S. and Canada. Out of the 220, 51 of those are in Florida. 11`13- o. Submitted into the public record fW item(s) A on 1 City Clerk • This law has stretched from Key West to Fernandina Beach and Sarasota to Ft. Lauderdale. No other Florida animal welfare law has moved so fast and has been embraced like this one. • Cities have tried for years to figure out a way to regulate sales in stores, but to no avail. Since there is no other source than puppy mill puppies to stores, there is no other option. If there were other options, cities like Los Angeles (with 24 stores operating) would have chosen them. • There are approximately 65 Florida stores currently selling puppies. Conversely, there are hundreds more successful pet stores not selling puppies. These statistics show that this business model is no longer considered humane or viable. • The time is now, we need to remind ourselves of the conditions in which these dogs are living and suffering and put an end to dogs languishing at these facilities.