The Indianapolis City-County Council proposal to require all owners of intact dogs to register and comply with certain requirements for care and breeding is scheduled to be considered by the Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee on Monday, July 15.
Those who wish to comment may do so by contacting the committee members listed below, or you may attend the hearing in person:
Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee of the City-County Council
Monday, July 15, 2024
5:30 pm
Public Assembly Room
City-County Council Building
200 E. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN
The American Kennel Club (AKC) understands that this is an attempt to address concerns regarding disreputable breeders who are breeding dogs without concern for the welfare of the animals or the community. AKC does not oppose basic care of animals, including appropriate veterinary care, microchipping, and ensuring females are healthy enough for breeding.
AKC and the Indiana Purebred Dog Alliance have also been informed that this proposal is the first step in a comprehensive process to address these issues, and will continue to be in contact with those working on the proposals in order to ensure they are in the best interest of dogs, the community, and responsible hobbyists.
Summary:
Proposal 207 would establish an intact animal registry for Indianapolis-Marion County for all who own at least one intact dog over six months of age, unless they have a certificate from a veterinarian stating the dog cannot be sterilized for an age or medical reason.
There is no cost to register, but it must be renewed annually. Those who register must adhere to the “Guidelines for Responsible Unaltered Animal Ownership”, which includes the following requirements:
- An annual veterinarian exam, including an oral exam, and updated vaccinations including for parvovirus and rabies for all dogs over three months of age
- Keeping records of all litters produced and sold for at least two years, including the new owner contact information for every dog sold/transferred
- Reporting litters to the Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS) within two weeks of birth
- Not breeding a female until a veterinarian has deemed the dog healthy enough for breeding, and not breeding the female more than once every 18 months and no more than six litters in a lifetime
- Obtaining a unique litter ID from IACS that must be included in any offer of sale and provided to the person obtaining a puppy
- Microchipping puppies prior to transfer. New owners are responsible for updating microchip information
For a first violation, the owner will be given information on the law and the benefits of spaying and neutering, and the city may recheck within 30 days to ensure compliance. Fines and other penalties are assessed for subsequent violations.
Contact the Members of the Metropolitan and Community Development Committee:
Maggie Lewis, District 5, Chair
317.327.4242
maggie.lewis@indy.gov
Paul Annee, District 22
317.523.5056
paul.annee@indy.gov
John Barth, District 7
317.902.1453
john.barth@indy.gov
Derek Cahill, District 23
317.296.3419
derek.cahill2@indy.gov
Brienne Delaney, District 2
317.327.4242
brienne.delaney2@indy.gov
Jared Evans, District 17
317.327.4242
jared.evans@indy.gov
Ron Gibson, District 8
317.562.1556
rongibson.indy@gmail.com
Michael-Paul Hart, District 20
317.327.4242
michael-paul.hart@indy.gov
Kristin Jones, District 18
317.680.6869
kristin.jones@indy.gov
Brian Mowery, District 25
317.373.2890
brian.mowery@indy.gov
Nick Roberts, District 4
317.476.3025
nicholas.roberts@indy.gov
Leroy Robinson, District 1
317.327.4242
leroy.robinson@indy.gov
AKC and the Indiana Purebred Dog Alliance will provide more information as it is available, including details on the committee meeting. For questions or more information, contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.