An Indianapolis City-County Council committee has advanced a proposal to require all owners of intact dogs to register and comply with certain requirements for care and breeding. It is expected to be considered by the full council in August.
View AKC’s previous alert for more information on the proposal, or you can read it in its entirety here.
Those who wish to comment may do so in one of the following ways:
- Contact the full council at: City-County.Council@indy.gov or
- Use the online search tool to find the name and contact information for your district and Councilor.
As stated in previous alerts, the American Kennel Club (AKC) understands that this is an attempt to address concerns regarding irresponsible breeders who are breeding dogs without concern for the welfare of the animals or the community. AKC believes that no dog should ever be breed without regard for its wellbeing, and advocates for and supports measures to ensure the care and well-being of all dogs –including appropriate veterinary care, microchipping, and ensuring females are healthy enough for breeding.
However, we are concerned that simply instituting an intact animal registry will do little to improve the well-being of animals or address irresponsible ownership, while creating an unnecessary burden for responsible dog owners and breeders. AKC urges the council to work with responsible breeders and the community to address recognized issues without creating unnecessary burdens for law-abiding and responsible dog owners.
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. For questions or more information, contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.