The Indianapolis City-County Council has approved a proposal to require all owners of intact dogs to register and comply with certain requirements for care and breeding, including reporting each litter produced.
The proposal now goes to the mayor for his signature. Those who wish to contact the mayor should call his office today at (317) 327-3601.
View AKC’s previous alert for more information on the proposal and talking points.
In a July committee meeting, the proposal was amended to allow for data collection including the number of registrants and litters produced in the city, and contact information of any inspections made.
AKC has been in contact with key city officials and a compromise amendment was offered that will not restrict breeding ages, so long as the dog is deemed healthy enough for breeding by a veterinarian. AKC has also communicated concerns raised by some breeders that privacy be protected with data collection, and has received commitments from the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (who will be implementing the registry) that they are willing to work to address these concerns.
We thank City Councilor Joshua Bain for listening to our concerns and facilitating these discussions with the city on behalf of responsible dog owners and breeders.
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 bred without regard for its wellbeing. AKC advocates for and supports measures to ensure the care and well-being of all dogs.
However, we are concerned that simply instituting an intact animal registry will do little to improve the well-being of animals or address concerns with irresponsible breeding, while creating an unnecessary regulatory burden for responsible dog owners and breeders.
AKC and the Indiana Purebred Dog Alliance (IPDA) urge the city 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 undertaken by the city in conjunction with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to address these issues. AKC 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.