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 had an initial hearing in the Los Angeles Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment Committee on October 4 and a formal draft and further consideration is expected soon. 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.
CA, Bakersfield – The Bakersfield City Council is considering a wide-range proposal that could see many of the city’s dog related laws changed. The proposal recently passed out of the Legislative and Litigation Committee and is awaiting consideration before the full City Council. AKC continues to research and monitor the proposal
GA, Forsyth Co. – Members of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners continue to consider significant changes to the county animal ordinance, including licensing and registration requirements both for breeders and for individuals who sell/transfer just two dogs or cats; tethering restrictions; and nuisance provisions. View AKC’s most recent alert. The issue did not receive a vote on September 21. The Georgia Canine Coalition and other stakeholders are working to ensure that dog breeder provisions are reasonable, enforceable, and consistent with state requirements. A meeting is tentatively scheduled for December 11, and AKC will provide further information.
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 submitting suggested edits and issued an alert.
NM, Las Cruces -The Las Cruces City Council held a special work session to discuss a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance and continues to receive pressure from a local animal advocacy organization to implement this proposal. A draft ordinance is not publicly available, and it is unclear when a draft will be available. The AKC expects there will be one more special work session to discuss this ordinance before it will be sent to the city council for a vote, but there are none scheduled at this time.