The Scarborough Ordinance Committee on Tuesday declined to pursue a potential ban on the sale of puppies from puppy mills at pet stores in town.

Town Manager Tom Hall said the committee, after a long discussion, voted 2-1 not to pursue the issue. Councilor Carol Rancourt cast the dissenting vote.

The committee scheduled the discussion after hearing a presentation last month from Maine Citizens Against Puppy Mills, which asked town officials to consider stopping sales of puppies and kittens in local pet stores.

Carol Reynolds of Naples wrote a letter to the town on behalf of the citizens group. She said a movement to shut down large-scale breeding farms, often called puppy mills, is gaining momentum nationwide.

There is currently only one store that sells dogs in Scarborough.