A proposed Cherokee County ban on the sale of dogs and cats at pet stores will be the subject of a public hearing Tuesday, Aug. 6, before the county Board of Commissioners.
Commissioners approved Commission Chairman Harry Johnston’s request to call the hearing on a county measure Johnston said was sought by Canton and that would mirror ordinances already adopted by Cherokee’s five cities.
“A pet shop may not sell, exchange, barter, offer for sale, auction, or otherwise deliver or transfer a cat or a dog,” under penalty of a fine of up to $500 per violation, the proposed ordinance says. A store could, however, provide space to animal shelters and animal rescues to offer pets for adoption.
“We don’t currently have any stores that sell cats and dogs at retail,” Johnston told commissioners, so the ordinance “would be more of a pre-emptive measure. The intent is to limit the perpetuation and growth of so-called puppy mills because they are generally believed to be the suppliers of animals sold at retail.”
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