New pet stores will no longer be allowed to sell puppies or kittens in Palm Beach County, according to WPTV.
On Tuesday, Palm Beach County commissioners voted unanimously to ban the stores from selling these pets in an effort to end puppy mills. The ban also helps ensure that pets sold are from USDA-licensed breeders with no animal cruelty history.
According to WPTV, the ban will also require animal agencies to provide monthly adoption records, prohibits breeding of certain cats and allows some changes to rules for dogs described as dangerous or vicious.
Along with the new ordinance, eight existing pet shops in Palm Beach County will be allowed to continue to sell pets.
According to the Sun Sentinel, about two dozen cities in Broward and Palm Beach counties have recently banned the sale of dogs at pet shops.
The new law goes into effect on Oct. 1.
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