CANTON, GA -- The Canton City Council has taken a bold step to crack down what it believes could lead to unsavory business practices surrounding pets in its jurisdiction.

The vote, which was met with thunderous applause and shouts of joy by the audience, was made after roughly 90 minutes of comments from dozens of people. While dozens of residents came out to support the ban, a considerable crowd of people expressing their opposition also filed into Canton City Hall to be seen and heard.

The Council voted unanimously to ban the retail sale of pets, mostly cats and dogs, in the city. Councilman John Rust was not present.

One resident who called on the Council to approve the ban was Carol Mudd, a longtime volunteer with the Cherokee County Animal Shelter. Mudd said one of her two most "deplorable, heartbreaking" times she's experienced during her nine-year run at the facility is when the shelter took in hundreds of dogs in connection to a puppy mill discovered along Cumming Highway in east Cherokee County.

Most of those audience members were sporting red T-shirts that read "No Retail Pet Ban," and were employees of stores such as Petland and representatives of organizations that were against the ban.

Mudd and others at the shelter routinely meet with distraught residents who are surprised to see how an animal they paid so much money for could become sick and inevitably die so young. The families in the community suffer when they learn that the person they purchase their pets from doesn't have those animals' best interests in their hearts, Mudd states.

The amount of money needed for the county to nurse those dogs back to health so they could be adopted was "incredible." The second heartbreaking time, she added, is one that occurs on a regular basis.

"It's not just about the animals here," she said. "It's about the owners and the families who spend so many dollars trying to save those animals and the heartbreak for those families when those animals die."

She added that the city of Canton can be a positive role model by stepping in and taking a stand against the practice of stores selling pets as well as puppy -- or kitten -- mills.

He also said the city's ordinance is broad, and does not even define what a retail establishment is. Davis added that, according to the state statutes, about 20 locations in Cherokee County -- and a "handful" in Canton -- could be classified as pet dealers even if they sell less than 30 animals.

Shawn Davis, who represents the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, said the ban would deprive consumers the right to determine where they purchase pets.

With that in mind, the city's ordinance is not targeting puppy mills and other irresponsible sellers, but is setting up an "illegal taking" against mom and pop enterprises, he added.

"These bans have proven that they do nothing to reduce consumer demand," he said. "They only drive demand elsewhere."



Another Canton resident, Peggy Davis, told the audience she has purchased three dogs from Petland over the last 15 years.

Those puppies, she added, have all been healthy "and have been a significant part of our family." She also said Petland consultants were the ones who educated her on care and training for her dogs, and followed up on anything her family would have needed following the purchase.

Noting that she actually prefers certain breeds, she told the Council that banning retail sales would infringe on her right to choose where she can purchase her pet.



Petland, specifically its store in Kennesaw, has come under fire for allegedly selling sick puppies, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

Rome resident Monte Brokate, owner of Petland stores in Rome and Dalton, said his store buys from reputable breeders registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He also said his pets are examined by at least three veterinarians before they are sold.

If the city wants to tackle puppy mills, then it shouldn't go after retail establishments. It should focus its efforts on the online trade, as that's where most of the problem lies.



"I'm not a monster like we are being portrayed here," he said.



Karen Paul, a self-proclaimed advocate who "exposes pet stores," said she has first-hand knowledge of the issues that come from stores that sell puppies and kittens as part of their business model.



These businesses, she added, have bullied, threatened and tried to silence anyone, including her, who has publicly opposed their practices. These companies, Paul stated, rely on the public to remain "uneducated" and will do whatever they can to deceive citizens.

"This is not some small, locally owned business, but this is a large profiting industry," she said.

Other speakers also called for the Council to delay the ban for another two weeks so they can conduct more research and allow more residents to learn about the proposal. A few also accused Council members of presenting one-sided information on Facebook groups and sharing how they would vote before the ordinance was even formally taken under consideration.



That request as well as the allegations were flatly rejected by the Council.

Council member Sandy McGrew, who admitted she shares information to Facebook pages and groups catering towards Canton residents, said the matter has been tossed around by city leaders for the past two weeks.

"That said, I think we know what we are doing," she said, adding the ordinance is a good beginning to eliminating puppy mills.



Councilman Bill Grant, who noted the issue is an emotional one, said the folks he's talked to about the ban have overwhelmingly asked him to vote in favor of it. His job is to represents his constituents, so his vote in the affirmative is just another example of him living up to those demands.

"My constituents overwhelmingly support this ban," he added.

Grant added that if Canton becomes the first in the Peach State to enact such a ban, then he would be proud of the city.

Amy Henderson, a spokesperson with the Georgia Municipal Association, said it does appear Canton is the first to pass such an ordinance.

Mayor Gene Hobgood said the issue came on his radar when his daughter, who works for the ASPCA, informed him of legislation in the Georgia General Assembly that would preempt local governments from banning retail sales of pets.

Hobgood said the legislature has consistently blocked the right of local governments to decide "what's best for your local community" on various issues such as fireworks and weapons.

The bill Hobgood is referring to, House Bill 144, was introduced during the 2017 legislative session, but did not pass the Georgia House before Crossover Day. However, while that legislation won't go anywhere this year, Henderson said there could be attempts to take part of its language and add it on to other bills that made the Crossover Day deadline.

After receiving no commitment from Cherokee's legislative delegation, Hobgood said he felt it was time for the city of Canton to act.

Canton's ban would not harm any retail pet stores in the city, as there are none that sell cats and dogs in this manner.

"This ordinance is a perfect example where we as city officials...can truly make a difference," he said, adding that puppies and kittens are not commodities to be placed on a shelf for sale like a can of corn.

The ordinance was signed Thursday and is now in effect.

PHOTO: A group of residents wore "No Retail Pet Ban" T-shirts at Thursday's Canton City Council meeting. Credit: Kristal Dixon