Pet Sale Ban In Manatee County Will Start August 2022

BRADENTON, FL —Manatee County commissioners voted 4-3 Tuesday to ban the sale of dogs and cats in stores and flea markets.

The ban goes into effect Aug. 10, 2022. The ban affects businesses that sell cats and dogs for profit. Animal welfare groups and shelters can still facilitate animal adoptions.

Ten other counties in Florida have enacted similar bans.

The commissioners' chambers were packed with people, who spoke up both in support of and in favor of the ban.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, hundreds of local governments in the U.S. have passed similar legislation.

A video recording of the meeting is available on YouTube; discussion on this bill begins about five hours and five minutes into the video.