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ORDINANCE NO. 2014- 14 30 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 100 "ANIMALS" OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH TO CREATE A NEW SECTION 100-3 ENTITLED "RETAIL SALE OF DOGS AND CATS"; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING PROVISIONS; PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, existing state and federal laws regulate dog and cat breeders as well as pet stores that sell dogs and cats including the Animal Welfare Act ("AWA") (7 U.S.C. Section 2131 et seq.); and WHEREAS, the Animal Welfare Act requires, among other things, the licensing of certain breeders of dogs and cats and that theses breeders maintain minimum health, safety and welfare standards for animals in their care with enforcement of these requirements by the United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA"); and WHEREAS, according to The Humane Society of the United States, American consumers purchase dogs and cats from pet stores that the consumers believe to be healthy and genetically sound, but in reality, the animals often face an array of health problems including communicable diseases or genetic disorders that present immediately after sale or that do not surface until several years later, all of which lead to costly veterinary bills and distress to consumers; and WHEREAS, according to The Humane Society of the United States, hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats in the United States have been housed and bred at substandard breeding facilities known as "puppy mills" or "kitten factories," that mass-produce animals for sale to the public, with many of these animals being sold in pet stores; and WHEREAS, according to the USDA inspection reports, some additional documented problems found at puppy mills include: (1) sanitation problems leading to infectious disease; (2) large numbers of animals overcrowded in cages; (3) lack of proper veterinary care for severe illnesses and injuries; (4) lack of protection from harsh weather conditions; and (5) lack of adequate food and water; and WHEREAS, while "puppy mill" puppies and "kitten factory" kittens are being sold in pet stores, many dogs and cats are euthanized by Miami-Dade County's Animal Control Services; and WHEREAS, across the country, thousands of independent pet stores as well as large chains operate profitably with a business model focused on the sale of pet services and supplies and not on the sale of dogs and cats; many of these stores collaborate with local animal shelter and rescue organizations to offer space and support for showcasing adoptable homeless pets on their premises; and Page 1 of 4