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Issues at the City, County, and Metropolitan Levels, and in US Territories

GA, DeKalb County Action on a proposed ordinance that, among numerous egregious provisions, seeks to require owners of female intact companion animals to obtain a litter permit prior to the birth of a litter or within one week after the litter’s birth was deferred to January 21, 2024. During a meeting of the County Operations Committee, the sponsor of the ordinance indicated that the intent is to limit a household in DeKalb County to one litter permit per year, and that revisions to the ordinance are in process. The ordinance could again be considered on January 21, 2025. View AKC’s most recent update.

LA, St. Tammany Parish – On December 5, 2024, the St. Tammany Parish Council unanimously adopted a new spay/neuter ordinance. The new law, which went into effect on December 20, 2024, requires all dogs to be spayed or neutered. Dogs 52 weeks of age and younger are exempted from the spay/neuter requirement. Additionally, any pet owner can obtain a no-fee intact waiver from the Animal Services Department if the owner presents proof of the animal’s current rabies vaccination, an animal license from the parish, and proof that the animal is microchipped. Read AKC’s most recent alert on this issue.

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 has scheduled a public hearing for January 23 at 5:30p for specific input on the cat licensure provisions.   

WV, Upshur County – The Upshur County Commission proposed a comprehensive new animal control law that included a broad definition of “dangerous dogs” to include any injury, including a scratch.  AKC worked with local club members to request an amendment to remove very minor incidents such as a scratch or a puppy nipping someone, while still protecting the county from truly dangerous behavior.  The county agreed to amend the proposal to address this concern.  While the ordinance also allows discretion by animal control in determining if a dog is vicious and clarifies that a declaration may not be breed-specific, it still contains some concerning provisions.  Among them are provisions that allow at-large dogs to be sold or euthanized if not claimed in 5 days and the requirement of payment for costs before an animal may be reclaimed.  Read more.