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South Florida advocates press for stronger action against unlicensed pet breeders
Animal rescuers and county officials say unlawful breeding adds to shelter pressures as sick, unwanted and unsold animals are abandoned or surrendered. A Broward investigation into an online husky sale ended with a citation for a prohibited public-place sale.
BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — Animal advocates say unlicensed breeding is adding to pressure on South Florida shelters, while dogs that are unwanted, sick or no longer profitable can wind up abandoned or surrendered to rescue groups.
The concerns include inadequate veterinary care and unsafe living conditions at breeding operations, as well as sales that violate local rules. Advocates are calling for stronger enforcement and urging prospective pet owners not to buy from illegal breeders.
In a recent investigation, Rebecca Landerman, who runs Rescue Dog Network, responded to an online advertisement offering husky puppies for sale. The seller arranged to meet her in a Costco parking lot in Davie, where the puppies were offered for $800 each. Landerman said they were about six weeks old and had not been vaccinated.
Broward County rules require breeders to obtain permits and register with the county, and set veterinary, vaccination and minimum-age requirements for puppies. Sales in public places are also prohibited under the rules cited in the investigation. A Broward Animal Care field officer responded and issued a citation for the public-place sale, according to the report.
Christian Ruben, a documentarian with iFilm Heroes who investigates breeding operations around Florida, said he has recorded animals kept in poor conditions. In Homestead, he said, he saw German shepherds being bred in a chicken coop too small for them to stand comfortably. Ruben said online photos of puppies can obscure the conditions in which breeding dogs are kept, and argued that some sellers do not properly screen buyers.
The consequences reach beyond individual sales, said Jan Steele, director of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control. She said shelters do not have room for all the animals being bred in the region and that illegal breeding contributes to the strain.
Steele said her department is working to strengthen county regulations. Its 30 field officers work with the sheriff’s office on animal-welfare investigations and enforcement, she said. In her account, some breeders skip health checks and vaccinations and repeatedly breed animals; those dogs and many of their offspring may later end up in shelters.
Rescue organizations, meanwhile, are left to find homes and pay for care for animals that are abandoned, surrendered or otherwise need help. Advocates say enforcing existing rules, raising public awareness and choosing not to purchase from illegal breeders can help reduce the flow of animals into already crowded shelters.