ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County’s ban on the retail sale of puppies and kittens, set to take effect Wednesday, survived a legal challenge brought by three owners of pet shops who argued the new ordinance will bankrupt them.
In a six-page decision, Circuit Judge Vincent Chiu said lawyers for two Orlando Petland franchises and for Breeders Pick presented “credible evidence the ordinance would have a catastrophic effect” on their businesses, but law requires him to consider other factors, too.
“While there may be fair debate whether the ordinance is good policy, that debate belongs in the political arena rather than the courtroom, and is one in which this Court has no place,” Chiu said.
