Bravo to the mayor! Only when government makes it illegal for the sale of animals in retail outlets will the cruelty of puppy mill breeders be ended. We need government at the local, state and federal level to take a stand and outlaw the mass breeding and the retail sale of all animals. Check out how many dogs need homes on Petfinder: http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?animal_type=Dog&pet_breed=&location=Brick%2C+NJ&startsearch=Search
Don't shop - adopt!

In a town with an animal shelter that is over run with unwanted animals and 2 large chain stores that have adoption facilities why would you allow sucn an establishment open in the first place?

I agree with this proposed ordinance with the exception of one part. It's the part that says that they will ban any private breeder who sells more than 10 puppies a year. I am not a breeder but that number seems a little low. A reputable breeder may sell more than that, maybe we need another way to determine if breeders are reputable.

YES YES!! Lets make room for more liquor stores and bars! IF this is the way to address a problem we will have but few freedoms left. Too many people driving through a red light? Ban driving! Too many people not returning their library books? Close the library! Too much shoplifting? Close the stores? Too many bad decisions by our Brick politicians? Merge with another town. This is a small thinking problem mixed with a large ego problem. Be careful for what you wish.

Close the store on Rt 70 by Target..........they too have sold very ill puppies.

Yes I agree! However I do have a question, why id the Mayor not follow through on the ban the puppy mills 5 years ago when he introduced the same type of ordinance and then never put it for a vote?

I sure hope he does follow through this time!

to ''Brick Resident 2'' Be careful....I think your ignorance is showing!

BRICK RESIDENT... WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

DON'T SHOP!................ADOPT!

Joan, you go girl! Obviously, Brick 2 does not like animals.

Finally, we may stop new stores like this coming in. Now, we have to get rid of the current ones still open for business...and news like this is not good for business for them! Finally!!

As for people wanting a dog or cat, please, please, please, adopt. That doesn't mean that you are stuck trying to get a pet at the Jersey Shore Animal Shelter. There are so many other shelters and rescues in our area in Ocean and Monmouth counties to look into first. Then, make your decision where you think the policies would work out best for you.

There are plenty of cats up for adoption at Point Paws in Pt Pleasant, SAVE in Toms River, ABC in Pine Beach & Seer Farms in Jackson. Seer Farms also has dogs. Please consider these places when you are looking to adopt.

I hope they adopt this proposal by the Mayor - there is NO logical reason why they wouldn't and a thousand reasons why they should. I also hope that some of the provisions listed will be used to immediately shutter the store on Rt. 70 once and for all.

I do hope they adopt this proposal, but I would hope they would look more carefully at the breeders issue. Using the number of puppies sold does not mean a breeder is reputable. I would hope that another way to determine this would be used. If you are looking for a full breed dog, there are rescue groups out there for just about every breed. Keep that in mind when you are looking for your next best friend.

"The ordinance also gives the township the power to suspend or revoke a pet shop, small breeder, shelter or pound’s license if the establishment fails to maintain proper hygiene and exercise "reasonable care in safeguarding the health of animals in its custody or care," according to a statement from the mayor's office. "

Why is the mayor realeasing a statement that is worded as if the ordinance has already been written, voted on, and approved??

All he has done is intstruct the town attorney to draft a ordinance, yet he is acting as if the ordinace is already law.

He should save his speeches until after the work is done, rather then trying to take credit for a ordinance that isnt even written, let alone law.

Steve is a politician through and through

Bravo! Let's get it done. It is a sad state of affairs when this type of abuse and mistreatment of animals is allowed to continue. It is disheartening that no one from the Chambers of Commerce has weighed in on this issue of key importance. Not only is it a travesty to treat animals in an unjust and inhumane manner, it is simply not good business practice. If you want us to support local stores than maintain good business standards. Let's remember that consumers are being sold animals that are sick. Consequently, leaving the consumer unprotected with significant veterinarian bills and often times left with no recourse but to put their beloved family pet down. It is unconscionable - animals and consumers need protection now.
The proposed ordinance must include safeguards to end the SALE and INHUMANE treatment of animals. It is high time such measures are initiated, and I applaud our governing body for exhibiting common sense on this matter. The public is watching, and we will not go away!

Thank you to each and every member of the community who took the time to attend the "Puppies Galore" hearing. Oppression comes in many shapes and sizes. The exercise of power in a burdensome, cruel or unjust manner clearly describes the store owner and manager of "Puppies Galore."

Although it was difficult to listen to the testimony given by the Ocean County Board of Health, it was necessary. It was astonishing to me that those with a deplorable record and history of violations remain unscathed. It is evident that the fate of the innocent animals cannot be left to their mercy.

The mistreatment of animals is never acceptable and the unanimous Council decision to revoke their license is commendable. The proposed ordinance to ban puppy stores is the next step step in the right direction!

Dog Lover,
Actually I love animals! I just dont like politicians removing our rights and freedoms. Perhaps I wanted to open a pet store in Brick, the town in which I was raised. Now what? By the way I agree with you and have always adopted and fostered pets.

Lets all agree to put the puppy mills out of business or at least not in our town. These dogs and cats are treated worse then livestock. Send a message to the Amish country that it won't be tolerated here.

Acrapolis likes animals more than he likes the residents of Brick who elected him...

Have to agree with Brick Resident 2. Placing such an encompassing restriction on pet shops that also happen to sell puppies is an overkill unless someone can show that ALL pet shops treat their animals cruelly. A wiser course would be to establish requirements for pet stores to adhere with and to monitor them to assure compliance. This proposed ordinance is as ridiculous as the one that bans feeding squirrels… proposed and adopted in the heat of a passionate outcry by someone who moved into the town and feared the squirrels were going to attack his grandchildren. People like that should move to the city! We have enough government intervention in our lives, so how about if our elected officials THINK for a change before reacting. BTW, my dog came from the Brick shelter.

Growing up I had "mutts" for pets. I think they make the best pets anyway so if you are not taking your dog or cat to a show why not save these animals at the shelters. You don't need a pure bred and you will feel much better in saving an animal. Stop by a shelter and donate some food, blankets, towels etc.

Andy, I have given this issue much time and consideration, and I can only conclude that banning Pet Shops from opening up in Brick is absolutely necessary. There is an insurmountable amount of evidence that indicates that there are no mechanisms in place to adequately protect the consumer from purchasing a defective product (in this case, sadly enough we are referring to a living breathing animal.) Let's not forget that unsuspecting consumers are being sold sick puppies. Mothers and fathers should never have to explain to their young children why they have to put their sick family pet down. Simply stated, it is not good business to mistreat animals and it is a bad business practice. Unfortunately time has proven that animals cannot be protected by manmade measures that would seek unenforcable compliance regulations. In my humble opinion, you cannot compare the selling of sick animals for profit and personal gain to an isolated incident of fear. The lobbying efforts to water down meaningful legislation for the protection of animals is unyielding.

One would have only had to listen to the testimony by the Ocean County Board of Health to fully comprehend just how difficult it is to protect the abused and inhumane treatment of animals from repeated offenders like Nat Sladkin who go from one store to the next.

Frances,
But it will be ok to have a puppy shop in Toms River or Lakewood? Having to drive an extra fifteen minutes to buy a puppy will solve the problem? Do you think the "not in my town" approach will work? Maybe then we should ban all pet shops from opening across the country. With all due respect, perhaps the Board of Health should do their jobs and inspect the stores for issues. Oh, I forgot. They only work 6.5 hours a day.

I unerstand a lot of puppy mills are located in Lancaster, Pa and run by the Amish. They treat the animals like livestock and maybe it is time for the residents of Pa. to speak up. As for here in NJ I am glad there is this forum to let people know where these animals came from and how they were mistreated.

It is amazing how some try to undo anything that is productive and good. We must continue to lend our voice to those without a voice - the animals without power!

I agree wholewhertedly with Frances and so many others. We must pass laws to protect the animals. Enforcing past flawed policies have left the animals defenseless and at the mercy of store operators like Nat Sladkin.

Paul, Agreed. It is the approach that bothers me. One shop in town does wrong and we all lose a little freedom. We cant just move the problem to another town. We cant close businesses each time we find fault. When will that stop? Why dont we close down Petsmart too then? I feel bad for those cats in the cages all day and night. Who decides if the business stays open or gets closed? Should we take back all our liquor licenses because we arrested a drunk driver or there was a serious accident involving one, or worse, someone died as a result? Your thoughts?

I applaud our Governing body for revoking "Puppies Galore" license and for the proposed ordinance to ban puppy sales. Let's end the inhumate treatment of animals and protect consumers in the process.

This is not a mere emotional issue but speaks to CONSUMER and ANIMAL PROTECTION. Time and time again, year after year, history reveals the same unethical pattern exists, and those who profit enormously simply get a slap on the hand. Although I have not weighed in on the issue until now, I have been paying attention. In that zoning laws in Brick Township simply exclude the sale of "Pigs", I agree that this is not a viable solution.

Comparing porn shops to the sale of puppies from puppy mills is like comparing oranges to apples. The presence of porn shops is a moral issue; and with that said, the unsuspecting consumer is never sold a "defective product." It is my belief that this is a key element that should not be discounted.

On March 01, 2012, a court date has been set for DeSantis and Sladkin - these repeat offenders (eighteen years and counting) are subject to probation or six-month jail sentence for such despicable offenses. The penalty assesment is insufficient at best.

History has revealed that regulation alone does not provide protection. There simply aren't the resources available to meet the demands of the abuse that is out there. I wish that it were that simple.

No friends or relatives in that business I guess ??

Yes, I am in favor of an ordinance that would ban the sale of puppies and place restrictions on puppy stores and kennels in our Township.

Moreover, we need legislation and provisions for the court, upon finding a person or operator of a store selling animals guilty of abusing an animal or otherwise violating the State animal cruelty laws to be issued an animal protection order against the person or store operator adjudged guilty of the abuse or other violation, requiring the person to refrain from interacting with any animal PERMANENTLY. There are several bills pending in the State Legislature but with less teeth and more bark.

The time for the enactment and implementation of animal protection measures is long overdue. Admittedly, I do not want to read about this same store operator, Mr. Sladkin committing the same heinous offences moving forward.

So on a more serious note, I would vote to close any liquor establishment to which a drunk driver was served "too many" then caught driving. We should protect ourselves at least as much as we are protecting pets. No?

By the way how much money can we stomach to spend in town to defend against lawsuits from people challenging the constitutionality of these decisions? What law firm would benefit from this sort of arbitrary removal of "free enterprise" by local politicians?

Please sign our petition if you are against puppy stores in Monmouth and Ocean! http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/638/849/606/ Have sent this to Brick a few times now.

Puppy Stores cost taxpayers by flooding the area with more dogs when the area is riddled with kill shelters. What the area needs is responsible breeders, adoptions and responsible owners. One of the reasons puppy stores do so well is they don't do any checks - any idiot can have a dog.

The 10 dog limit is being raised... it is understood that the numbers are too low for dog clubs.

Perhaps all those against the ban should road trip to PA when they see where these dogs come from. The parents are kept in cages for a lifetime while they breed out litter after litter of often sick puppies. Are you OK with giving your daughter a puppy for Christmas and then helping her bury it in the yard by Spring? Didn't think so. Responsible Breeders do home checks, they don't sell dogs in a store. Remember the dirty hoarding situation in Spring Lake? He was selling to Puppy stores.

It's not about freedom, it's about cheating the public and mistreating living creatures.