The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider a problematic litter permit and pet sales ordinance at its Tuesday, August 27, 2024, meeting.
It is important for commissioners to hear from constituents with concerns about this vague, overreaching proposal. Scroll down for meeting and contact information.
Among numerous other requirements, the proposed county ordinance seeks to:
- Require owners of female companion animals to obtain a litter permit prior to, or within one week after, the birth of a litter. A permit fee is referenced, but the amount is not provided. This would be in addition to federal and Georgia state-level dog and cat breeder requirements.
- Limit the number of permits that could be issued to a household in any 12-month period; however, the proposed number is blank in the ordinance.
- Limit a female companion animal to producing one litter per year.
- Allow Dekalb County Animal Services to waive the fee for a litter permit for rescue groups and foster care providers that breed/whelp litters and sell/transfer pets.
- Require the litter permit holder to permanently retain for inspection the name and address of every recipient of an animal.
- Require the litter permit holder to be liable for medical costs up to the purchase price for any puppy or kitten “diagnosed as sick” within one week from the date of sale. As drafted, this provision fails to require veterinary documentation of illness, allow the seller/transferer of the pet to have it examined by their own veterinarian, or provide adequate due process for either the buyer or seller.
- Require that puppies and kittens may only be sold, given as a gift, or transferred from the location listed on the litter permit, subject to seizure if transferred at another location.
- Mandate undisclosed “required vaccinations” prior to transfer.
- Establish other requirements that are contrary to federal and state laws, including restrictions on certain pet sales.
Additionally:
- The ordinance is unclear on whether the permit would be issued for the litter or for the intact female dog.
- The ordinance is unclear on if it would require all persons to obtain a litter permit to locally advertise a companion animal under the age of six months for sale, gift, or transfer.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Breeders and hobbyists in DeKalb County, as well as residents who may wish to acquire their next pet within DeKalb County, are urged to contact their county commissioners and state their strong opposition to this overreaching yet vague proposal. View the proposed ordinance: Animal Litter Permit Transfer and Sale Legislation.
Click here to identify your commissioner and their contact information.
Attend the meeting on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at 9:00am to state your concerns and ask that the proposed ordinance be tabled pending stakeholder involvement in drafting an alternate proposal that is fair, clear, enforceable, compliant with state and federal law, and that addresses the needs of the community.
For meeting information, how to speak at the meeting, and how to submit comments, click on https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/board-commissioners/public-participation.
Please contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org or call 919-816-3720 for additional information.