Issues at the City, County, and Metropolitan Levels, and in US Territories
Philadelphia, PA – The Philadelphia City Council approved Bill No. 250989 which would impose a 36-month moratorium on the breeding and the sale or transfer of any dog under 7 months of age within the city to address overcrowding at the city’s shelters. The bill exempts any person or entity holding a valid Pennsylvania Dog Law kennel license, which is required if one keeps, harbors, boards, or transfers a total of 26 or more dogs in a calendar year. The bill would significantly restrict responsible, small-scale, American Kennel Club–affiliated breeders, while failing to address the real sources of shelter crowding. AKC has testified in opposition before the Rules Committee and full Council. City Council approved the bill on February 19, 2026. The bill was signed by the Mayor, and will take effect on June 2, 2026. AKC GR is working with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement to clarify how the Commonwealth’s kennel license regulations would be administered for home-based hobbyists in who may choose to obtain a state-issued kennel license in order to continue to breed during the 36-month moratorium.
San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco City Council proposed a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance for all dog owners in the city. While there were some exemptions for club members and “competition dogs”, there were many concerns, including expensive intact animal licenses and mandatory spay/neuter requirements for any animal violation complaint against an owner of an intact dog. AKC GR issued alerts and letters and testified at a city council hearing on April 9. The council committee chose to table the ordinance and work on more effective solutions.