The San Antonio City Council is expected to consider a new animal ordinance that seeks to further limit breeding and restrict pet stores to sourcing dogs and cats only from an animal rescue organization, an animal control agency, or a county animal shelter licensed by the city.
Currently, Sec. 5-106 of the city’s ordinances requires a person who sells or offers for sale one or more animals to obtain a seller’s permit, and that each seller’s permit shall be valid for one animal or one litter. As noted in the presentation (timestamp 12:18), the proposal will seek to limit the number of sellers permits available to an individual to one per year per address, and will require sterilization of all animals located at the place of sale if the sellers permit requirements are violated (currently, only impoundment is required after notice is made to a purported violator). The proposal, which was recently approved by the Council’s Community Health and Equity Committee after a briefing by staff of the city’s Animal Care Services Department, was not purported to impact the litter permit requirements of Sec. 5-105.
The specific language of the proposal has not yet been publicly released. The proposal is expected to be considered by the City Council in an “A Session” meeting in late October, and if adopted will likely go into effect in early 2021.
AKC’S POSITIONS:
The American Kennel Club (AKC) opposes the concept of breeding permits, breeding bans, or mandatory spay/neuter of purebred dogs, specifically those based on the number of dogs owned or maintained. AKC strongly opposes any measure that restricts choice by compelling people and/or retailers to obtain pets solely from shelter or rescue distributors. Instead, we support reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners who meet their responsibilities.
Click here to read The Value of Responsible Dog Breeders.
Click here to read Rescue Dogs and Stopping a Potential Danger.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Concerned San Antonio residents are encouraged to contact the Mayor Nirenberg and the members of the San Antonio City Council to express concerns with the upcoming proposal. Please feel free to use AKC’s Positions, above, as talking points.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg
Phone: 210-207-7107
Click here for a form to email Mayor Nirenberg.
Councilman Roberto C. Treviño (District 1)
Phone: 210-207-7279
Click here for a form to email Councilman Treviño.
Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan (District 2)
Phone: 210-207-7278
Click here for a form to email Councilwoman Andrews-Sullivan.
Councilwoman Rebecca J. Viagran (District 3)
Phone: 210-207-7064
Click here for a form to email Councilwoman Viagran.
Councilwoman Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia
Phone: 210-207-7281
Click here for a form to email Councilwoman Dr. Garcia.
Councilwoman Shirley Gonzalez
Phone: 210-207-7043
Click here for a form to email Councilwoman Gonzalez.
Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda
Phone: 210-207-7065
Click here for a form to email Councilwoman Havrda.
Councilwoman Ana Sandoval
Phone: 210-207-7044
Click here for a form to email Councilwoman Sandoval.
Councilman Manny Peláez
Phone: 210-207-7086
Click here for a form to email Councilman Peláez.
Councilman John Courage (District 9)
Phone: 210-207-7325
Click here for a form to email Councilman Courage.
Councilman Clayton Perry (District 10)
Phone: 210-207-7276
Click here for a form to email Councilman Perry.
AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) will continue to monitor developments in San Antonio, and will report additional information as they warrant. For more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.