Commission postpones vote on pet retail stores

By Diane Emeott-Korzen | New Pelican Writer

Pompano Beach – About an hour into the discussion of the Feb. 10 second reading of an ordinance restricting the retail sale of dogs and cats, the city commission voted 5-1 to postpone the matter until Feb. 24. That will allow Commissioner Audrey Fesik and others more time to meet with the city attorney’s office and research the item, to give people on both sides of the issue another chance to speak, and for the city attorney’s office to create a grandfather clause for all existing businesses that sell dogs and cats. Commissioner Rhonda Sigerson-Eaton voted against postponing. 

Commissioner Darlene Smith’s original motion to grandfather the one existing business that sells dogs and cats, Paradise Puppies, under the current ordinance met with conditional support from Vice Mayor Alison Fournier, if the business did not change ownership, location, or have more than three violations. The motion failed 3-3. Deputy City Attorney Tracy A. Lyons said the cleanest way to do this is to remove the change of location.

Paradise Puppies owner Jasmine Sedih spoke at the meeting, after just finding out about the ordinance. “I did everything I possibly could to make sure everything is okay before taking out a $500,000 loan and signing a 10-year lease.” She said the majority of her business is pet sales, not accessories, and she is terrified that if she does not have pet sales, she can’t pay the $7,000 per month rent. She cautioned that shutting down retail pet sales won’t help the animals, but will cause people to turn to wrong ways of getting a puppy. Her employee and two customers spoke of the loving care each puppy receives at the store, as well as its clean conditions and proper management.

Asked where she sources her animals, Sedih said outside the state, but she follows the right procedures. There are no violations. She researched it.

Hallandale Beach Vice Mayor Michele Lazarow, who championed the Pompano Beach ordinance in her capacity as a private citizen, said, “Let her have her 10 years. It’s not vindictive. We’ll be back . . . not with emotions (but facts). It will say USDA, State of Florida, we will watch (for violations), we are the safeguard.”

Asked by The New Pelican who the “we” is, Lazarow said the organization, Humane World For Animals, formerly the Humane Society of the U.S., who she works with. Lazarow said she has her own non-profit, the Alliance For Animal Welfare, and has lobbied the state, county, and city governments in Broward, Flagler, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties. She said she doesn’t take money for it, and is not a paid lobbyist.

Asked why a resident of Hallandale is interested in an issue impacting Pompano Beach, Lazarow replied, “This is what I do on behalf of the animals.”

At the first reading of the ordinance on Jan. 27, the commission voted 5-1 in favor of the ordinance, with Commissioner Darlene Smith voting against. The item was postponed multiple times in 2025, including at the Sept. 9, Oct. 28, and Dec. 9 meetings.

“I hate to see us put a business out of business without any cited problems,” Smith said.

“We are not forcing them to shut down, this is just about how they source their animals. I’m not sure they will be able to do this. There is a potential legal challenge,” City Attorney Mark Berman advised.

Lazarow said she is trying to put “puppy mills” out of business. The “mills” have garnered a reputation for breeding canines in unsanitary conditions that are detrimental to their health. Lazarow referenced a 47-page report from the attorney general about deceptive pet sales. Since 2010, 80 percent of (sick animals) come from large commercial retail. The report recommends ending pet retail, she said.

Oakland Park Mayor Steven Arnst also spoke in support of tightening local controls on pet stores. “We did this in our city. I agree with Michele,” he said.

Public Works Director Rob McCaughan informed the commission that officers have visited Paradise Puppies and never cited the store on any inspection. There is not currently a problem in the city. This is (out of) concern of it happening in the future.” Under the ordinance, a hobby breeder can still sell dogs, but can’t sell them through a retail store.

Fournier called this a costly issue for consumers. “Pompano has one store. Does the store have other things they can sell, accessories? People love their pets. They treat them as members of the family.”

Mayor Rex Hardin inquired whether this business open right now is still buying (animals). He asked about the health of animals in the store, and animal documentation.

Berman said (the business) must provide a document of the source. The (mother animal) must not have more than one litter per year. “I know the governor has asked for changes (at the state level). I’m not sure whether the legislature is going to do anything. My office will monitor this legislative session and let you know of any changes in Tallahassee.”

Sigerson-Eaton asked if it would be beneficial to grandfather Paradise Puppies. “I’m just worried there will be some liability . . . If the rest of the commission is not worried, I’m fine (with passing the ordinance).”

Smith also voted against a proposed change to the ordinance on the number of days pet stores have to comply. Berman drafted the ordinance to allow 180 days (six months) after passage for businesses to comply.

Lazarow came to the podium again, instead urging a shorter compliance deadline of 90 days. 

Fesik and Fournier made a motion to make this Lazarow-inspired change when the ordinance comes back for another reading. The commission voted 5-1 for this change, except for Smith, who expressed concerns about potentially impeding a businesses’ ability to do business.