Issues at the City, County, and Metropolitan Levels, and in US Territories
CT, Meriden – In December, AKC and the Connecticut Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners met with legal counsel for the city to request practical changes to recently released breeder and litter permit application forms. The city’s ordinance is likely to be updated to reflect changes to state law and AKC has secured meetings with the city’s legal counsel and animal control director to offer recommendations.
CT, Stamford – In February, the Board of Representatives’ Legislative and Rules Committee voted unanimously to send an ordinance banning the retail sale of dogs and other animals in the city to the full board for consideration on February 25 anticipating it would apply pressure on state lawmakers to enact H. 6832, authorizing municipalities to enact these ordinances. The proposal was recommitted to the Steering Committee.
FL, Marion County – In early February, the Marion County Land Development Regulation Commission considered changes to the county’s Land Development Code that included dog and cat ownership limits for residents of unincorporated areas of the county. The limits would have been based on zoning classifications. In March, the Commission held a public hearing on an amended version its proposal which instead addresses the regulation of certain kennels, breeders, owners, and animal-related businesses. In April, the Board of County Commissioners voted to approve the changes, which effectively requires high-volume owners with more than 30 dogs and/or cats to apply for a special use permit before April 30, 2026.
SC, Greenville County – An ordinance has been proposed to address, as the sponsor put it when introduced at the January 21, 2025, council meeting, “too many dogs going to [the County’s] Animal Care.” However, as introduced, the draft primarily seeks to lay animal population issues in the county at the feet of responsible breeders, by defining commercial breeding kennel as a person or establishment that owns, houses or maintains three or more dogs for the purpose of breeding and selling their offspring, requiring commercial breeding kennel licenses and inspections of facilities (including of private residences), complaint-driven inspections, extensive care and conditions requirements based on engineering standards, a ban on “outdoor sales” (except for shelters and rescues and others), and incomplete cost-of-care provisions. Moreover, the draft uses “commercial breeding kennels,” “all dog breeding kennels,” “all dog breeders”, and “any breeder” interchangeably, but it is not clear if doing so was intended or unintended. The proposal is expected to be considered by the County Council at an upcoming meeting.
SC, Spartanburg County – The Spartanburg County Council is considering extensive amendments to the county’s Animals ordinance The proposal, which AKC expressed serious concerns with, would create new licenses for dog breeders, require inspections of their facilities, establish care and conditions standards for all dogs, and impose ownership limits. A council meeting on April 21 has delayed formal consideration until May. Click here for more information.
TX, Abilene –The Abilene City Council pulled an ordinance from the agenda requiring mandatory spay-neuter for all dogs and cats over 6 months. If someone wishes to keep an intact animal, they must secure a commercial breeder permit even if they do not breed dogs. On March 14, the Abilene City Council approved an ordinance to require spay and neuter for dogs after a second at-large violation in a dog’s life and implemented breeder licensing in the city. The ordinance included substantive exemptions from both the spay and neuter provisions and the breeder permit for fanciers, field trialers, hunt tests, sportsmen, and agriculture working dogs.