The San Antonio City Council will meet August 31st at 9am to consider the 5-Year Strategic Plan, which currently includes a proposed spay/neuter ordinance, breeder permits and a bill of rights for animals. It is imperative that concerned dog owners and fanciers attend this meeting and email council members and staff to educate them about the benefits of responsible local breeders. Click here for a list of council members and their addresses.
The Canine Legislation Department has written a letter to the San Antonio City Council on this issue. To see a copy of our letter, please click here. AKC asks all concerned dog owners to be polite and respectful when contacting elected officials.
San Antonio Considers Mandatory Spay/Neuter and Breeder Permits
[June 19, 2006]
The San Antonio City Council is considering a 5-Year Strategic Plan that includes mandatory spay/neuter and breeder permits, as well as creation of a bill of rights for animals. The plan was generated by the San Antonio Animal Care Services Advisory Board and will be presented to the city council at the June 29th meeting. Fanciers and concerned dog owners are needed to attend the meeting and oppose these proposals.
Breeder licensing fees place undue burden on responsible breeders and owners and fail to address the irresponsible individuals who do not comply with existing law and will not comply with new regulations. Such fees therefore punish responsible breeders who give the care and attention that puppies need in order to grow into healthy, well-adjusted companions and neighbors. Responsible local breeders also provide a support system to new owners; assisting them with housebreaking, training questions, behavior issues and basic new puppy care inquiries.
The AKC believes the answer to population issues is strict enforcement of leash and nuisance laws, rather than passage of new burdensome regulation. The key to resolving this issue is to implement and expand the wide range of programs available to educate the public about responsible breeding and animal ownership practices.
AKC also has serious concerns about establishing a bill of rights for animals. AKC supports the best premises of animal welfare but does not believe that animals have legal rights. Pets may be special members of our families, but they are unable to take responsibility for their actions. Bestowing legal rights on them is the first step in a larger campaign to end pet ownership and breeding altogether.
However, aside from the mandatory spay/neuter proposal and the bill of rights for animals, AKC wishes to applaud the advisory board for many of the initiatives contained in the most recent draft. AKC is particularly pleased to see the outreach and educational plans and the proposals to increase owner retention. The Animal Care Service Advisory Board pursuit of alternative sources of funding is also innovative and will be beneficial in supplementing the animal service budget. AKC looks forward to working with local dog owners to help San Antonio find effective and reasonable solutions to its animal control challenges.
For AKC’s talking points on opposing mandatory spay/neuter, please click here.
What You Can Do:
- Attend the City Council meeting August 31st at 9am.
Municipal Plaza Building
103 Main Plaza
San Antonio, Texas 78205 - Please contact the Mayor and City Council members and ask them to oppose these portions of the strategic plan.
Mailing address for all City Council Members:
City of San Antonio
PO Box 839966
San Antonio, TX 78283Mayor Phil Hardberger
Phone: (210) 207-7060
Fax: (210) 207-4168
mayorphilhardberger@sanantonio.govDistrict 1, Roger Flores, Jr
Phone: (210) 207-7279
Fax: (210) 207-7027
rfloresjr@sanantonio.govDistrict 2, Sheila McNeil
Phone: (210) 207-7278
Fax: (210) 207-7027
district2@sanantonio.govDistrict 3, Roland Gutierrez
Phone: (210) 207-7064
Fax: (210) 207-7027
district3@sanantonio.govDistrict 4, Richard Perez
Phone: (210) 207-7281
Fax: (210) 207-7027
rperez@sanantonio.govDistrict 5, Patti Radle
Phone: (210) 207-7043
Fax: (210) 207-7027
pradle@sanantonio.govDistrict 6, Delicia Herrera
Phone: (210) 207-7065
Fax: (210) 207-7027
district6@sanantonio.govDistrict 7, Elena Guajardo
Phone: (210) 207-7044
Fax: (210) 207-7027
district7@sanantonio.govDistrict 8, Art Hall
Phone: (210) 207-7086
Fax: (210) 207-7027
district8@sanantonio.govDistrict 9, Kevin Wolff
Phone: (210) 207-7325
Fax: (210) 207-7027
kwolff@sanantonio.govDistrict 10, Chip Haass
Phone: (210) 207-7276
Fax: (210) 207-7027
chaass@sanantonio.gov
- The following city officials also have considerable influence over the development of the Strategic Plan and fanciers are asked to send them a copy of the correspondence that is sent to city council members.
City Manager Sheryl Sculley
Phone: (210) 207-7080
Fax: (210) 207-4217
cm@sanantonio.govDeputy City Mgr Pat DiGiovanni
Phone: (210) 207-6912
Fax: (210) 207-4122
PDiGiovanni@sanantonio.govAsst. City Manager Frances Gonzales
Phone: (210) 207-2200
Fax: (210) 207-4122
francesg@sanantonio.gov
The San Antonio City Council will meet August 31st at 9am to consider the 5-Year Strategic Plan,…