Ocoee to consider granting retail puppy store exception to Orange County ban

OCOEE, Fla. — Ocoee city leaders set to discuss Tuesday whether or not to allow a pet store to stay open in the city.

The debate comes a few months after Orange County voted to ban shops from selling dogs, cats, or rabbits.

READ: ‘He could not breathe’: Puppy owner says Ocoee pet store sold her sick lhasa apso

Ocoee will decide whether to keep that ban or make an exception for a store with a controversial history.

Chews a Puppy is asking for an exception from the ban.

The store has a history of complaints and two court cases against it after customers say they were sold sick animals that eventually died.

READ: Coroner: Remains found in Wyoming belong to Gabby Petito

Jordan Mingorance was looking for a companion during the pandemic — so she bought her Pekingese pup “Ellie” at Chews a Puppy in Ocoee.

What was supposed to be a solution to her stress just ended up adding more.

She’s one of three customers Channel 9 has spoken to who have had issues with the store.

READ: Hidden loan terms prove costly for families seeking pandemic puppies

Action 9 first spoke with her last year. She said she agreed to pay $4,500 for the dog not realizing on the loan documents it was actually going to cost her nearly double, with a 95% interest rate.

Orange County court documents show two different customers sued the retail pet shop claiming they were sold sick animals.

Both customers claimed they racked up expensive vet bills and both the Maltese puppy and the German shepherd died.

READ: Orange County Commission considering ban of retail store puppy sales

The Humane Society told Ocoee commissioners the store is also tied to sales from multiple puppy mills across the country, including one in Iowa that’s received more than 100 violations for mistreating animals.

“There’s no reason this company should get some kind of protection from a popular, humane law that saves dogs and puppies,” said John Goodwin, the senior director of Stop Puppy Mills.

Even if the commission says they can’t stay open, the store has until next year to change their business into a “humane” pet store only selling supplies instead of animals.

Channel 9 reached out to the store but has not heard back.

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