Issues at the City, County, and Metropolitan Levels, and in US Territories
CA, Los Angeles – The Los Angeles City Council is considering a proposal to suspend the issuance of new breeding permits for the stated reason of shelter overcrowding. This would impact all who breed in the city, as well as all owners of intact dogs even if they are not currently breeding. The proposal is currently before the Los Angeles City Council. AKC is in communication with officials from Los Angeles and is working with numerous local club members to address concerns. Read more.
CA, Kern County – The Kern County Board of Supervisors is considering a proposal from the Kern County Animal Services Commission that would institute an increased licensing regime in Kern County with severe penalties for a first violation. Current law already requires an unaltered dog permit. Under the proposal, failure to license an unaltered dog could lead to mandatory spay/neuter on one violation of related animal control laws. AKC continues to be in communication with officials from Kern County and is working with numerous local club members to address concerns. Read more.
GA, Forsyth County – Members of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners continue to consider significant changes to the county animal ordinance, including licensing and registration requirements for breeders and for individuals who sell/transfer just two dogs or cats. View AKC’s most recent alert. The Georgia Canine Coalition and other stakeholders are working to ensure that dog breeder provisions are reasonable, enforceable, and consistent with state requirements. Comments and recommended alternate language were offered to commissioners in January.
MA, Barnstable – The town is updating its dog and kennel licenses and held a public hearing in October. The proposal would intends to establish a new “multiple dog licenses” category for a private residence maintaining four to six dogs or for breeding dogs for show or sport that sells dogs from two or less litters per year, in lieu of obtaining a kennel license. In order to obtain a kennel license, applicants would need to secure site plan review and zoning board approval because they would be treated as commercial use. AKC and a resident AKC breeder met with town officials in November to discuss concerns. AKC provided suggested edits and issued an alert. The town adopted AKC’s edits and others relating to dogs’ beach access before posting a re-draft on January 5. Details are here.
OR, Roseburg – The Roseburg City Council adopted a wide-ranging proposal that changes many of the city’s dog-related laws, including setting a new limit (4) on the number of dogs a household may possess. AKC is working with the city council and local clubs on potential changes to the passed ordinance and thanks the councilmembers for their engagement with AKC.