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 is meeting this month to suggest edits.
GA, DeKalb County – The County Operations Committee of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners is now expected to consider a revised draft dog ordinance at its March 18, 2025, meeting. The full Board of Commissioners is expected to consider the ordinance at its March 25, 2025, meeting. A revised draft has not yet been made available. AKC viewed the original version of the ordinance—which included litter permits, litter limits, sales restrictions, and incomplete consumer protections—as problematic. Click here to learn more.
FL, Marion County – An ordinance proposing to limit the ownership of dogs and cats in unincorporated areas of the county was introduced by the county’s Land Development Regulation Commission at its February 5, 2025, meeting. The proposal would allow the ownership of no more than four dogs/eight cats per residence on non-agriculturally zoned properties, no more than six dogs/10 cats per residence on agricultural properties less than 10 acres in size, and no more than 10 dogs/15 cats per residence on agricultural properties greater than 10 acres in size. AKC shared deep concerns with the ordinance with commission members, as did every member of the public who spoke on the matter at the February 5th meeting. The proposed language will be further considered at a public hearing on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Click here for more information.
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. AKC has begun working with local club officials, will issue a legislative alert, and will reach out to County Councilors in an effort to ensure concerns are addressed.
TX, Abilene– The Abilene City Council is considering an ordinance 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. The next hearing on the bill will be on February 27.
VT, Burlington – On November 5 the Burlington City Council Ordinance Committee reviewed and took comment on recommendations by a Dog Task Force Report. Among key recommendations was a provision substituting the word “guardian” for animal “owner” throughout the proposed article. Both AKC and the VT Federation of Dog Clubs submitted testimony in opposition to the change. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on January 23 for specific input on the cat licensure provisions and continues to work on its draft.