AKC understands that local animal rights groups are putting increased pressure on local cities in Arizona (particularly Phoenix) to enact breeder regulations in an effort to address shelter population concerns. This is a trend we are increasingly seeing in cities throughout the United States.
While nothing has been formally introduced, now is the time for local breeders and clubs to contact the Phoenix City Council. Let them know about all the positive things responsible breeders and clubs do for dogs in the city and respectfully ask them to not support any proposal that would require licensing, permits, or other arbitrary requirements on breeders and owners of intact dogs.
Use this online tool to find the name and contact information for your councilmember or visit the city’s website to contact the mayor and all councilmembers.
Talking Points:
- Remind them that responsible breeders are not the reason for shelter population concerns. In fact, responsible licensed breeders are part of the solution – providing well-bred dogs to families and ensuring these dogs never end up in shelters.
- 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 regulating or restricting responsible breeding:
- Ensure good data collection to determine where issues are originating and allow for arising problems to be adequately addresses.
- Require 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.
- 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.
AKC Government Relations will provide more updates when they are available. For questions, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.