Orange County residents plan to protest proposed commercial dog breeding facility

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Some Orange County residents plan to protest against a proposed commercial dog breeding facility in a rural area of the county.

Breeder David Valencia said he wants to live on the property, on Lake Pickett Road near the intersection of South Tanner Road, with a kennel in the back.

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Valencia said he mostly breeds small dogs. He said he has 65 dogs right now, with small groups of several different breeds. He’s asking the county for approval for the commercial kennel to be built on agricultural land.

It would be a 4,800-square-foot building that could hold up to 100 dogs.

Read: Puppy sales now banned at Orange County pet stores

“He’s basically a puppy mill,” said Michele Wacker, with Poodle and Pooch Rescue

She said there are so many rescue dogs already available, and shelters are full.

She said two years ago the county banned the sale of puppies and other animals in retail stores.

Read: Orange County pet stores to pay thousands in refunds to customers who bought sick puppies

“Why did we potentially put them out of business so that we can give this guy a monopoly on pet sales?” Wacker said.

Valencia, who moved here from Canada, said he considers himself a professional breeder and insists his business isn’t a puppy mill.

“And I understand the concern because I’m also a big dog lover. I would say that it’s completely wrong,” he said.

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Valencia said he’s a careful breeder, and believes there’s a market for both rescue dogs and puppies.

But many people have reached out to expressing concern about the facility and hope the county won’t approve it.

“He’s playing us for fools,” Wacker said. “He is hoping to fool the zoning board, the county commission, and the residents into thinking he’s just building this monstrosity as a hobby.”

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Valencia said visits for people looking to get a puppy would be by appointment only, not open like a pet store.

The proposal will go before the zoning board Thursday at noon. If approved, it would also have to later be approved by county commissioners.

Puppy sales now banned at Orange County pet stores (Christy Turner, WFTV.com/WFTV)

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