ROYAL PALM TO CONSIDER BAN ON RETAIL PET SALES
ROYAL PALM BEACH — After years of controversy, a proposed ban on the sale of dogs and cats at retail stores lands before the Village Council this evening.
Florida has the highest number of complaints to the Humane Society about animals that suffer from health problems critics attribute to breeding at “puppy mills” or “kitten factories” for sale in stores, according to a village staff recommendation to approve the ban.
If approved after tonight’s first reading and final consideration Sept. 6, the move likely spells the end of business for Star Pups on State Road 7, at least within village limits. Store officials declined to comment Tuesday.
If Royal Palm Beach approves a ban, it would join other municipalities, including Palm Beach Gardens and Delray Beach, that have moved to enact similar prohibitions.
Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control has received six complaints in 2018 about Star Pups, including allegations puppies were sickly and had worms, parasites, viruses, bloody stools or vomiting, records show. The store offered refunds or otherwise demonstrated sufficient compliance with regulations to avoid fines or sanctions this year,
The Royal Palm Beach ban would not apply to animal shelters, rescue organizations or hobby breeders, who are according to records. allowed to offer limited num
Last year, a judge upheld bersofanimalsforsaleannually. fines against Star Pups for In other action, Village providing inadequate warCouncil members will conranties to consumers and sider requests to pave the for housing animals in conway for a proposed develditions that did not meet opment south of Southern county standards. Boulevard near State Road
County commissioners 7, which applicants are dubhave considered a ban on bing Tuttle Royale. retail sales but decided to Proposals show “pods” allow existing pet stores to for 1,100 apartments and remain in operation as long houses, a 1,500-student char- as they can show they did not ter school, a commercial cen- get animals from breeders ter and a park of more than 10 that are unlicensed or have acres. The plan is expected to violated standards moni- generate increased traffic at tored by the U.S. Departan intersection with a traffic ment of Agriculture. light on Southern Boulevard
Last year, the Trump admin- less than a mile west of State istration complicated the coun- Road 7, and another on State ty’s plan by ending decades of Road 7 south of Southern. ready public access to thouRoyal Palm Beach’s sands of USDA documents five - member p lanning about breeder violations, on agency approved a group the grounds of protecting the of requests associated with privacy of businesses. the project’s comprehen- sive plan Tuesday evening.
Brian Tuttle, whose company has been buying properties for years in order to create the project, said at the Tuesday meeting the charter school is anticipated to be a Sports Leadership and Management, or SLAM, school. He said the commercial center “will not be a strip mall,” instead emphasizing dining, fitness, hotel and entertainment attractions in a place where the “western communities can hang out.”
Planning agency members said developers are likely to face intense questions about traffic and other impacts near one of the county’s busiest intersections as the application process continues.
“I can tell you, you guys are really going to have to address the traffic issues at some point and provide more detail,” said planning agency Vice Chairman David Leland.