San Antonio Considers Mandatory Spay/Neuter and Breeder Permits

The San Antonio City Council is considering a 5-Year Strategic Plan that includes mandatory spay/neuter and breeder permits, as well as creation of a bill of rights for animals. The plan was generated by the San Antonio Animal Care Services Advisory Board and will be presented to the city council at the June 29th meeting. Fanciers and concerned dog owners are needed to attend the meeting and oppose these proposals.

Breeder licensing fees place undue burden on responsible breeders and owners and fail to address the irresponsible individuals who do not comply with existing law and will not comply with new regulations. Such fees therefore punish responsible breeders who give the care and attention that puppies need in order to grow into healthy, well-adjusted companions and neighbors. Responsible local breeders also provide a support system to new owners; assisting them with housebreaking, training questions, behavior issues and basic new puppy care inquiries.

The AKC believes the answer to population issues is strict enforcement of leash and nuisance laws, rather than passage of new burdensome regulation. The key to resolving this issue is to implement and expand the wide range of programs available to educate the public about responsible breeding and animal ownership practices.

AKC also has serious concerns about establishing a bill of rights for animals. AKC supports the best premises of animal welfare but does not believe that animals have legal rights. Pets may be special members of our families, but they are unable to take responsibility for their actions. Bestowing legal rights on them is the first step in a larger campaign to end pet ownership and breeding altogether.

However, aside from the mandatory spay/neuter proposal and the bill of rights for animals, AKC wishes to applaud the advisory board for many of the initiatives contained in the most recent draft. AKC is particularly pleased to see the outreach and educational plans and the proposals to increase owner retention. The Animal Care Service Advisory Board pursuit of alternative sources of funding is also innovative and will be beneficial in supplementing the animal service budget. AKC looks forward to working with local dog owners to help San Antonio find effective and reasonable solutions to its animal control challenges.

For AKC’s talking points on opposing mandatory spay/neuter, please click here.

What You Can Do:

• Attend the City Council meeting June 29th at 9am.

  Municipal Plaza Building
  103 Main Plaza
  San Antonio, Texas 78205
   

• Please contact the Mayor and your City Council member and ask them to oppose these portions of the strategic plan.

  Mailing address for all City Council Members:
  City of San Antonio
  PO Box 839966
  San Antonio, TX 78283

  Mayor Phil Hardberger
  Phone: (210) 207-7060
  Fax: (210) 207-4168
  mayorphilhardberger@sanantonio.gov

  District 1, Roger Flores, Jr
  Phone: (210) 207-7279
  Fax: (210) 207-7027
  rfloresjr@sanantonio.gov

  District 2, Sheila McNeil
  Phone: (210) 207-7278
  Fax: (210) 207-7027
  district2@sanantonio.gov

  District 3, Roland Gutierrez
  Phone: (210) 207-7064
  Fax: (210) 207-7027
  district3@sanantonio.gov

  District 4, Richard Perez
  Phone: (210) 207-7281
  Fax: (210) 207-7027
  rperez@sanantonio.gov

  District 5, Patti Radle
  Phone: (210) 207-7043
  Fax: (210) 207-7027
  pradle@sanantonio.gov

  District 6, Delicia Herrera
  Phone: (210) 207-7065
  Fax: (210) 207-7027
  district6@sanantonio.gov

  District 7, Elena Guajardo
  Phone: (210) 207-7044
  Fax: (210) 207-7027
  district7@sanantonio.gov

  District 8, Art Hall
  Phone: (210) 207-7086
  Fax: (210) 207-7027
  district8@sanantonio.gov

  District 9, Kevin Wolff
  Phone: (210) 207-7325
  Fax: (210) 207-7027
  kwolff@sanantonio.gov

  District 10, Chip Haass
  Phone: (210) 207-7276
  Fax: (210) 207-7027
  chaass@sanantonio.gov
   

• The following city officials also have considerable influence over the development of the Strategic Plan and fanciers are asked to send them a copy of the correspondence that is sent to city council members.

  City Manager Sheryl Sculley
  Phone: (210) 207-7080
  Fax: (210) 207-4217
  cm@sanantonio.gov

  Deputy City Mgr Pat DiGiovanni
  Phone: (210) 207-6912
  Fax: (210) 207-4122
  PDiGiovanni@sanantonio.gov

  Asst. City Manager Frances Gonzales
  Phone: (210) 207-2200
  Fax: (210) 207-4122
  francesg@sanantonio.gov

The San Antonio City Council is considering a 5-Year Strategic Plan that includes mandatory…