Pet Stores Spot Checked for Compliance – Does Yours Comply?
Friday, December 1st, 2006
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is conducting a statewide sweep of pet stores over the next five weeks to make sure consumers are protected when they purchase an animal.
Under the law, dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks old when sold or offered for sale, and each animal must be accompanied by a Florida health certificate signed by a licensed and accredited veterinarian within the past 30 days documenting required vaccinations, tests and treatments for internal or external parasites, according to a department release.
Those regulations aren’t a problem for reputable stores, said Aggie Rhoades, who with her husband John owns Petland at U.S. 41 and College Parkway in south Fort Myers. “They do spot checks, so that’s not at all a surprise to me and it’s not even an issue for pet stores that are always in compliance.”
Department spokesman Terence McElroy said the sweep is being conducted in the Christmas season because “this time of year people buy puppies or kittens for young children. We just want to make sure all those places understand the pet laws.”
For more information or to file a complaint about pet sales, consumers can call (800) 435-7352 or (850) 410-0900. About 350 to 400 pet stores and dealers will be checked statewide, he said.
Rhoades said there can be serious consequences from buying a pet — especially a dog — that has a phony health certificate or is less than eight weeks old.
“You see that a lot with cheap puppies,” she said. “If you get a puppy that’s much too young, health issues can arise. Often puppies, if they’re taken from their mother too soon, don’t know how to eat solid food. Hypoglycemia can set in and the puppy can die. Or you have to take it to the emergency vet and that’s a thousand dollars right there.”
Does your local pet store comply? If not please call the consumer hotline for reporting unethical activities. It is important for the safety of the pets available and the safety of people purchasing pets that may not understand what they are purchasing.
Be safe this holiday season.
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