![]() ![]() She described a situation that she said Sarasota County Animal Services staff could verify. ![]() However, when she later worked as a kennel manager at the business, Barr continued, she witnessed cruelty to animals as a result, she “never could speak another positive word about Petland.” She told the board she was paid, as a worker at the business, to make positive remarks about Petland during the last public hearing on a proposed ordinance, which was held on Dec. One former Petland employee, Rylee Barr, apologized for her emotional comments from the podium. Smith cautioned the commissioners not to believe comments from any former employees of the store, adding, “I would say, consider the source.” Rylee Barr addresses the County Commission on Sept. He praised the owners and staff for allowing him “to practice the highest quality of medicine possible.” David Smith of Bay Road Animal Hospital in Sarasota, who serves as the veterinarian for the business. The first person to address the board during the afternoon session was Dr. All but six addressed the board after Mason opened the afternoon session, which was held in Venice.Īlmost one-third of the speakers were representatives or employees of Petland Sarasota, located on Fruitville Road. 21 agenda as a discussion item, 55 members of the public appeared before the board during three different parts of the meeting, when comments were allowed. Photo by Rachel Hackneyīecause the matter was on the Sept. ![]() “It means only that you’ll have a legal, advertised public hearing on the issue.” The Sarasota County Commission sits in session this week. “It certainly does not say that,” DeMarsh responded. 21, Chair Carolyn Mason asked DeMarsh, “If the board votes to set this for public hearing, does that say … that the board has approved this ordinance?” “We will work on it” and bring back the language Robinson suggested, probably in an alternate version of the ordinance, County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh told the board.īefore the board passed the motion on Sept. “We’ll continue to work with all the stakeholders involved in this case, take their input,” Pearce said. Constitution as the foundation for that deletion. Pearce cited the Commerce Clause of the U.S. “It would not be that difficult to find that old draft,” Pearce added, though he indicated the section’s removal resulted from concern that the ordinance, if passed, could lead to lawsuits charging inequitable treatment of business owners. Robinson added that she preferred not having to rewrite the ordinance during the public hearing instead, revisions should be completed beforehand and then discussed prior to setting the hearing.Īssistant County Attorney David Pearce told the commissioners the original version contained language that would exempt breeders. Referring to the draft ordinance, she pointed out, “This has got a lot of problems with it right now, and it’s government intrusion upon some legitimate businesses …” As requested by the board, it will be the only item on the agenda that day.Ĭommissioner Christine Robinson cast the minority vote, contending the proposed ordinance could prevent reputable breeders from selling young animals to customers at ancillary businesses the breeders owned and operated, such as a pet grooming service. 27, 2016, on a proposed ordinance that would ban sales of commercially bred animals in certain retail establishments. 21, the Sarasota County Commission voted 4-1 to advertise that a public hearing will be held on Wednesday, Jan. News Leader photo of the slideĪfter about two hours and 40 minutes of public comments on Sept. On a 4-1 vote, the County Commission this week agreed to advertise a public hearing but asked staff to amend language of the proposed law beforehand to exempt certain types of breeders Karen Ankerstar of Sarasota showed the board this photo of dogs at a breeding operation she said had been inspected by the U.S. ![]()
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