FL ​Pet Store Has Dealer Permit Revoked For Violations

CLEARWATER, FL — A pet shop in Clearwater had its pet dealer permit revoked after an animal control investigation “found an overwhelming number” of county code violations, according to a Pinellas County news release.

Pinellas County Animal Services received a complaint on July 9 claiming that Blue Sky Puppies on Ulmerton Road sold sick puppies and kept animals in unsanitary, crowded conditions.

When animal services officers went to the store on July 10, they found 177 puppies at the shop, as well as kennels with empty water bottles, kennels without a water bottle or bowl available, 34 puppies in kennels that were too small, enclosures with multiple sick puppies, and puppies in the isolation ward too close to healthy puppies, the county said.

These conditions were in violation of Pinellas County Code Section 14-29 “Retail Pet Store Regulations” and Pinellas County Code Section 14-36 “Animal Care & Manner of Keeping.”

When the officers asked for the veterinary records for 23 puppies in isolation, the store manager told them that staff diagnose and treat the animals despite none of the employees having veterinary degrees, the county said.

When reviewing treatment records for those dogs, officers found one for a Yorkie puppy that detailed three days of treatment, but the animal wasn’t at the store. When asked where the puppy was, staff told officers the puppy had died and was taken to a local veterinary hospital for cremation.

Officers followed up with the veterinary office about the Yorkie and discovered Blue Sky Puppies turned in dozens of deceased puppies for cremation over the last two years.

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The store failed to notify PCAS and could not provide veterinary medical records upon request, both of which are required under county code.

The store’s permit holder received “a substantial number of citations” for Chapter 14 violations, which led to its Pet Dealer Permit being revoked, the county said.

“Protecting animals is one of our primary duties, and the practices in use at this store posed a risk to the animals for sale there,” Jennifer Renner, PCAS director, said. “We inspect and investigate pet stores around the county and will continue to hold them accountable to our ordinance.”

The permit holder can request a review from the county administrator within five business days.
Blue Sky Puppies previously received one citation for not having official certificates of veterinary inspection for five puppies at the store last year.

Without a valid Pet Dealer Permit, puppies can’t be housed at the store and must be transported out of Pinellas County within five days.

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