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Visitor from North Myrtle Beach urges Raleigh to consider ordinance banning retail sales from puppy mills
Summary
A North Myrtle Beach councilwoman who spearheaded a local ordinance banning retail sales from puppy mills urged Raleigh councilors to consider a similar approach after recent local controversy over a downtown pet retailer.
A visiting elected official from North Myrtle Beach asked Raleigh councilors to review a potential ordinance restricting retail pet sales tied to puppy mills and in‑store breeders.
“Back in 2019, I spearheaded a pet ordinance to stop the sales of pets through puppy mills and these sales of pet boutiques,” Nikki Fontana told the council. Fontana said North Myrtle Beach adopted a municipal code provision (she described it as code section 4‑6) to ban on‑site sales of commercially bred dogs and that nearby jurisdictions later passed similar measures.
Fontana said the ordinance reduced problems such as pet hoarding and illnesses connected with in‑store sales and encouraged councilors to consult her city’s ordinance text and city attorney for guidance. She also referenced a recent downtown case in Raleigh in which a pet retailer was removed from a location and encouraged the council to “look into this” and “be proactive.”
Council did not take action during public comment. Fontana left copies of her city's ordinance and offered to follow up with staff and the council attorney if needed.
