PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — City officials have advanced new restrictions aimed at curbing unregulated breeding.
ACCT Philly is struggling to keep up with a surge in dog surrenders.
“Right now, with the number of dogs coming in, we have to do something,” said Sarah Barnett, executive director of ACCT Philly.
“We’re seeing breeders saying, ‘Hey, I can’t sell these anymore. Sorry.’ It’s the same breeders, multiple times, and we just have to take them in,” she said.
A new ordinance passed by the City Council seeks to address a root cause of the overcrowding.
Sponsored by Councilmember Cindy Bass, the ordinance would ban so-called “backyard breeding” in Philadelphia for the next three years.
Penny Ellison of the Animal Advocacy Center, who helped craft the legislation, said the measure fills a gap in oversight, including licensing and inspections.
“You do not have to get a kennel license under state law until more than 26 dogs pass through your facility in a year,” she said.
If the ordinance is signed into law, penalties would follow.
“There is a $1,000 fine, and I believe that’s per puppy and or per ad,” Ellison said. “If you don’t have some of those licenses or you’re not a rescue, you should not be able to place an ad to transfer a puppy.”
If Mayor Cherelle Parker signs the ordinance, there is a 90-day education period before the ban takes full effect.
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