DEFIANT pet shop owner Rob Ralphson is selling-up, but meanwhile, it's business as usual.

This week Mr Ralphson, who the Council has refused to renew his pet sales licence at his Queen Street store, told The Journal the business was being sold to a relative.

"I shall probably be here a couple of days a week helping out," said Mr Ralphson.

The authorities refused to renew his licence after he left the animals in the care of a minor when he shut up shop for a week to go on holiday.

Meanwhile he is defying the Council ban.

"The Council is going to prosecute me anyway," said Mr Ralphson, who claimed to have sold a budgie to a customer who had been "sent in" to see if he was still trading in pets.

Meanwhile customers continue to sign a petition supporting Mr Ralphson which on Tuesday afternoon he said had reached 2,801 names.

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