Dog-breeder won’t oppose Orange County zoning board rejection of 100-dog kennel
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Dog-breeder Juan David Valencia Santa has abandoned his unpopular plan to build a commercial kennel in rural east Orange County for up to 100 animals.
Santa, who specializes in cross-bred miniature canines, announced his decision Tuesday in a signed, one-line note to the Board of Zoning Adjustment, informing the panel he was withdrawing his request for a special zoning exception.
His action ends what little chance he had to persuade Orange County commissioners to ignore the zoning board’s advice and give him permission to build a 4,800-square-foot commercial facility on Lake Pickett Road.
The zoning board voted unanimously May 4 to deny his request after a four-hour hearing during which neighbors, animal-welfare advocates and shelter volunteers assailed his proposed kennel as a “puppy mill,” a charge he denied.
A puppy mill, as defined by the United States Humane Society, is an “inhumane, high-volume dog breeding facility that churn out puppies for profit, ignoring the needs of the pups and their mothers.”
They commonly sell through internet sales, online classified ads, flea markets and pet stores.
A native of Colombia, Santa bought the four agriculturally zoned acres for $750,000 in October.
He incorporated a business, Bright Pets LLC, at 15077 Lake Pickett Road in November.
Santa previously operated a breeding business, Bright Pets, in Canada.
More than 100 people signed up to speak against his kennel, some calling it incompatible with neighboring properties, which include the Painted Oaks Academy, a horse ranch, pumpkin patch and wedding venue.
Others argued the kennel was an effort to circumvent the county’s ban on retail sales of puppies.
Santa disagreed.
Attorney Paul Wean, a humane advocate who advises the Orange County Animal Services Advisory Board, told the zoning board that Santa’s plans called for customers to visit the kennel by appointment.
“Code defines a pet store to mean a retail establishment where animals are kept, sold or offered for sale on the premises,” Wean said. “Well, what is he going to do? He’s going to have end-purchasers coming to the kennel and buying puppies as pets and for no other purposes.”
Santa planned to offer grooming and dog-training services, too, but did not deny he’d sell dogs.
