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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final October 16, 2018 (Clerk's Note: This item and Item 10.B.2. were discussed together, followed by Item 14.D.1.) Nicole Capobianco, 7065 21st Street SW, used.a PowerPoint Presentation to provide knowledge of the health concerns, consumer fraud and animal cruelty in puppy mills. She requested the ban of pet stores obtaining and selling animals from those sources. In her presentation, she provided documentation from the Florida Department of Health in Indian River County, dated September 19, 2018, stating that a puppy recently purchased from Pets Around the World II had tested positive for having a type of bacteria called Campylobacter jejuni, and that one human illness was suspected to be linked to exposure to the animal. Ms. Capobianco pointed out information listed on PKC Puppy Applications, in reference to puppies sold by Pets Around the World II, that she described as fictitious. She also provided an invoice from. All Creatures Animal Hospital in Stuart, Florida, dated October 01, 2018, describing a puppy, purchased in Vero Beach on the.same day.as the examination, testing positive for Giardia and an upper respiratory infection. She cited violations to the Florida Statutes. 828.29 Dogs and Cats. Transported or, Offered for Sale; Health Requirements;. Consumer Guarantee. Discussion ensued amongst the Board and Ms. Capobianco. Vice Chairman Solari showed interest in separating the concerns brought forward by Ms. Capobianco; Commissioner Zorc was interested in the number of puppies sold that would classify a "puppy mill" versus.a "breeder", in addition to the regulations and monitoring provided by the Florida Department of Health; and Chairman O'Bryan suggested that a ban on puppies being sold at pet stores could lead to puppy mills changing their practice to find a way to sell to the public. Commissioner Adams questioned Ms. Capobianco's decision to purchase a dog from a pet store versus a breeder, which revealed the fact that Ms. Capobianco's Great Dane puppy, bought at PetsAround the World II, was fightingfor her life two (2) days after the purchase. Florida Department of Health employees Cheryl Dunn and Barb Progulske were summoned by Commissioner Zorc to speak on the investigation involving the human who tested positive for Campylobacter jejuni, noting that approximately 40-50 cases of the bacteria -causing illness are confirmed each year in Indian River County. Commissioner Flescher mentioned the outbreak of bacteria -causing illnesses that involved the pet store, PetLand. Chairman O'Bryan received clarification from County Attorney Dylan Reingold regarding the possibility of adopting an Ordinance requiring: the proper licensing of pet stores, to be monitored by Code Enforcement. Indian River County Florida Page 10