Summary:
On Wednesday, November 29, the Bakersfield City Council advanced the first reading of a proposal to overhaul the city’s laws related to dog ownership, dog breeding, and kennel licensing. While the agenda is not yet posted, it is likely this could be considered again on Wednesday, December 13. It is essential that the council hear from local residents who would be impacted by this proposal (scroll down for talking points, council hearing, and contact information).
As a reminder, as currently written, the proposal would:
- Require a kennel permit and possible inspections for anyone who owns more than three dogs at least twelve weeks old.
- Require all dogs over six months to be sterilized unless a city resident purchases an intact animal permit.
- Require anyone breeding and selling one litter of puppies to purchase a breeder’s permit, which also includes inspections of the animals or any premises where they are kept. The permit would not be allowed for any dog over seven years of age.
- Require that animals impounded more than once in their lifetime be spayed or neutered prior to redemption by their owner.
- Reduce the age of required dog licensing and rabies vaccination from four to three months of age.
What You Can Do:
Attend the next Bakersfield City Council meeting in person and respectfully express your strong opposition, particularly to the breeder and kennel permit provisions. Remind the Councilmembers how draconian home inspections and licensing are for simply owning three dogs and that the onerous proposal will not address concerns with shelter population or irresponsible owners. Instead, encourage them to enforce current state and local laws that ensure the care of all animals- regardless of how many are owned or whether they are intact. Visit Breeding Regulations and Restrictions in the AKC Legislative Action Center for more talking points and information.
The proposal is likely to be discussed on:
Wednesday, December 13, at 3:30 PM or 5:15 PM
City Hall South, 1501 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, California 93301
Note: The video for Council meeting is broadcast live on the internet at https://www.bakersfieldcity.us/543/Meeting-Broadcasts-Videos. The City Council will take public comment from members of the public inperson only; there will be no public comment by teleconference. When arriving, fill out a public speaker card and hand to the city clerk to notify the City Council you wish to speak.
If you can’t attend the meeting, you can also submit your opposition to the proposal by emailing city_clerk@bakersfieldcity.us
AKC GR will provide updates as warranted on next steps in the coming weeks. For questions or more information on California legislation, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.