A city judge deferred today to state regulators, saying The Pet Company in Hamilton Place Mall will be able to resume its normal business practices if the Tennessee Department of Agriculture allows the store to keep its license to operate.
An administrative hearing will take place Monday in Nashville in which the store and officials from the city’s McKamey Animal Care and Adoption Center will testify before state regulators.
City officials raided the store June 15, removing all animals for sale and slapping it with 90 violations of the city’s code for the treatment of animals. According to McKamey, the city issues its own licenses for pet stores to operate in addition to those given by the state, and Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge Neil Thomas on June 15 upheld the city’s removal of the pets pending the city’s ruling on the matter.
City Judge Sherry Paty today at a court hearing told both sides that the store seemed to be in the process of fixing its problems and that she would reserve a final ruling until after state regulators made their decision Monday.
But Judge Paty said the state has the ultimate call and that she will comply with whatever the state rules.
See tomorrow’s Times Free Press for complete details.