Spring Lake Park Council Deadlocks On Pet Store Ban, Ordinance Fails In 2–2 Vote

Spring Lake Park Council Deadlocks On Pet Store Ban, Ordinance Fails In 2–2 Vote

SPRING LAKE PARK, MN — July 9, 2025 — In a split vote Monday evening, the Spring Lake Park City Council rejected a proposed ordinance that would have prohibited the retail sale of dogs and cats in pet stores, opting instead to maintain the city’s current lack of regulation on future pet retail businesses.

The measure, introduced by Council Member Lisa Dirks, failed on a 2–2 tie during the July 7 City Council meeting. With no majority to adopt it, the ordinance was defeated.

The proposed ordinance aimed to prevent the sale of dogs and cats from commercial breeding operations, commonly referred to as “puppy mills.” Instead, it would have permitted only the adoption of rescue animals through partnerships with recognized shelters and nonprofit organizations. The model reflects similar legislation passed in nearby cities such as Coon Rapids, part of a broader movement across Minnesota to promote ethical animal sourcing in retail settings.

“It’s well written,” Dirks said during the meeting. “It should accommodate all of the different possibilities, but it still allows for just being humane. Since we don’t have pet stores in the area currently, we’re not impacting an existing business.”

Mayor Bob Nelson voiced strong opposition, ultimately voting against the ordinance.

“I feel like you’re just going to drive it deeper underground than it already is,” Nelson said. “And you put people’s lives in danger when they go to buy a dog.”

Other council members offered no comment during the vote.

Ordinance Highlights

According to City Administrator Dan Buchholtz, the ordinance was crafted over the past year and reviewed in a June 16 work session, where councilmembers expressed general consensus to bring it forward for formal consideration.

A unique element of the Spring Lake Park proposal was the explicit exemption of hobby breeders. These small-scale breeders, often residents selling from their own homes, would not have been classified as "pet stores" under the ordinance. However, they would have been limited to producing no more than two litters per year across all breeds.

“There are no pet stores as defined by this ordinance in operation within city limits,” Buchholtz explained. “This would regulate any potential future pet stores that would locate in Spring Lake Park.”

Dirks stressed the ordinance’s preventive value.

“The reality is there are plenty of other pet stores in Anoka County that are long-standing businesses that operate with this model,” she said. “Either they don’t sell puppies or kittens at all, or they partner with rescues—and it works for them.”

Next Steps

With the measure defeated, there is currently no regulation governing pet store sales of cats and dogs in Spring Lake Park, though no such establishments are active within city limits. The city may revisit the issue in the future, particularly if a commercial pet retailer expresses interest in opening locally.

For now, the outcome represents a policy pause in a growing regional debate over the ethical treatment and sourcing of companion animals.

MinneapoliMedia