On Thursday, June 20, the Fresno City Council will vote on a resolution that would suspend the issuance of new unaltered dog licenses until the 3-month shelter occupancy rate average drops below 75 percent. As the city is currently above this threshold, if adopted, the issuance of new unaltered dog licenses would be immediately suspended. As currently written, the resolution contains NO exemptions.
Fresno residents are strongly encouraged to review the below information and consider testifying or at least submitting comment prior to the meeting. Scroll down for more information
Additionally, the resolution states:
- Any advertisement to the public regarding the availability of any dogs for
sale or transfer, which was bred for the purpose of selling or transfer within the City,
whether for compensation or otherwise, shall prominently display the unaltered dog
license.
- Any dog owners whose animal has been either bred or sold or transferred without an unaltered dog license shall constitute a misdemeanor.
- Any commercial operation that allows for the sale or transfer of dogs within its premises without a proper unaltered dog license shall constitute as a misdemeanor.
- Any person who violates this resolution shall be assessed by means of administrative citations and shall be payable directly to the City of Fresno. Administrative fees for violation of this resolution shall be assessed at $1,000.00 per dog. Each and every day a violation exists constitutes a separate and distinct offense.
- Breeding shall be deemed to have occurred upon the production of offspring, whether such offspring results from sexual activity or artificial insemination, and whether such sexual activity was intentional or the result of improper confinement
What You Can Do:
SCROLL DOWN FOR TALKING POINTS
Submit written comment HERE before 9 am, Wednesday, June 19.
Attend the Fresno City Council’s Thursday meeting and express your opposition: The proposal is scheduled to be discussed on:
Thursday, June 20 at 9:00 AM
CITY HALL, 2ND FLOOR
2600 FRESNO STREET
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 9372
To participate in-person:
Fill out a speaker card (available in the Council Chamber) and place it in the speaker card collection basket at the front of the Council Chamber. You may also approach the speaker
podium upon the Council President’s call for public comment.
To participate virtually:
To register on Zoom, click HERE and select the June 20 date. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing additional details about joining the meeting. To speak during a City Council meeting while attending remotely: while in the Zoom application, click on the icon labeled “Participants” at the bottom of the screen. Then select “RaiseHand” at the bottom of the Participants window. Your digital hand will now be raised. You will be asked to “unmute” when your name is called to speak. You will not be visible via video and there will be no opportunity to share your screen.
All public speakers will have up to 3 minutes to address Council pursuant to Rule No. 10 of
the Rules of Procedure for the City Council of the City of Fresno (available in the City
Clerk’s Office).
Contact your member on Fresno City Council:
Fresno residents are strongly encouraged to contact your councilmember:
- District 1: Councilmember Annalisa Perea: (559) 621-8000
- District 2: Councilmember Mike Karbassi: (559) 621-8000
- District 3: Councilmember Miguel Arias: (559) 621-8000
- District 4: Councilmember Tyler Maxwell: (559) 621-8000
- District 5: Councilmember Luis Chavez: (559) 621-8000
- District 6: Councilmember Garry Bredefeld: (559) 621-8000
- District 7: Councilmember Nelson Esparza: (559) 621-8000
Some points to be sure to mention to your councilmember:
- Remind them that responsible, licensed dog owners are not the reason for shelter population concerns; remind them that responsible owners of intact animals are not the reason for shelter population concerns.
- In terms of addressing issues in animal shelter system, offer your councilmember the following steps which would have a greater impact on shelter system than banning responsible breeding:
- Ensure good data collection to determine where issues are originating and allow for arising problems to be adequately addresses.
- Ensure all animals received in the shelter system to be checked for microchips so lost pets can be quickly reunited with their owners and don’t languish in shelter system taking up valuable space and resources.
- Remind them that there are NO exemptions in the resolution and that spay/neuter is permanent even if the resolution could be temporary.
- Make sure low-cost spay and neuter funds are available to all who need it and ensure that program availability is widely known through community outreach.
- Often, dogs are surrendered due to economical or other unforeseen circumstances, including housing. Consider offering tax credits or other programs to incentivize greater acceptance of pets in residential housing to address issue of pets ending up in shelter system only because of housing issues.
- Develop a plan to manage “dangerous dogs” taken in and kept in the shelter system.
Visit Breeding Regulations and Restrictions in the AKC Legislative Action Center for more talking points and information.
AKC GR will provide updates as warranted on next steps as they are available. For questions or more information on California legislation, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.