Michigan Calls for Fire Suppression Systems in Pet Shops
All pet retailers—even those who lease their premises—would be required to install a fire alarm system and fire suppression equipment under legislation recently introduced in Michigan.
The requirements of House Bill 6275 would be legally impossible for pet store owners who do not own the building in which their business is housed, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Washington) said in a recent PetAlert. “These pet store owners cannot be held responsible for installing a fire suppression system when most leases/rental agreements do not allow tenants to alter buildings.”
The bill also raises questions about what would happen if the building owner refused to install the system, the trade organization said. Clarification also is needed about the definition of “pet shop,” because the bill as currently written might include kennels or other types of breeding facilities.
The legislation awaited its first hearing in the House Committee on Regulatory Reform at press time. [September 2008 PET AGE]
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