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.
CT, New Haven – In 2018, the city proposed and adopted new dangerous dog, breeding license and litter permit regulations. AKC submitted requested changes and met with the Mayor and General Counsel to discuss the changes. The election of a new mayor and the pandemic delayed review of AKC’s requested changes. On December 5, AKC appeared before the city’s legislative committee to highlight 2023 changes to Connecticut law necessitating change and to revisit the changes previously requested. A draft in response is pending.
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.
MA, Barnstable – The town is updating its dog and kennel licenses and held a public hearing on October 18. The proposal 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 which 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 on November 7 to discuss where the draft is confusing and raises concerns. AKC is submitted 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. Additional comments were accepted until January 15. Details are here.
NM, Las Cruces – In June of 2023 the Las Cruces City Council began discussing a mandatory spay and neuter (MSN) ordinance. A special work group was held in October to discuss an ordinance draft but AKC and local clubs opposed the development of such an ordinance. The council has thus far held off on further developing an MSN proposal and it appears the council will not proceed with one.
OR, Roseburg – The Roseburg City Council is considering a wide-range proposal that could see many of the city’s dog related laws changed-including setting new limits (4) on the number of dogs a household may possess. The proposal recently passed a first reading of the Roseburg City Council and is awaiting further consideration. AKC continues to research and monitor the proposal.