Fresno County is taking steps to go after backyard breeders.
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance for introduction on Tuesday to give the county teeth in the fight to curb pet overpopulation by going after illegal breeders.
The big picture: The ordinance will require breeder permits and limit breeders to having one litter per year.
- Violators will have to pay a $1,000 penalty per dog or cat in violation of the ordinance. Violators could also be hit with a misdemeanor penalty and face up to six months in jail.
State of play: Fresno County Supervisors Garry Bredefeld and Brian Pacheco introduced the ordinance to the board.
- Bredefeld backed a similar ordinance last year when he was on the Fresno City Council, which also fines people $1,000 per animal without a permit.
Why it matters: An official with Fresno Humane Animal Services said the shelter has taken in nearly 2,000 dogs already this year, with over half of them being puppies under the age of six months.
- The county already has over 50 properties on file that will likely be hit with this ordinance.
What we’re watching: The ordinance will come before the board for final approval on July 8 and will take effect 30 days later.
What they’re saying: “We continue to have significant challenges with overpopulation of animals,” Bredefeld said. “One of the big reasons for this is the illegal dog breeding that’s taking place in the County of Fresno. This amended ordinance will address that problem and hold accountable those who engage in this illegal activity.”
- Pacheco said the animal shelter staff is simply overwhelmed no matter how hard they work.
- “Our rescue facilities have done a great job, and they simply are overwhelmed and cannot keep up,” Pacheco said. “Something needs to be done. I will fully acknowledge this will not solve the problem, but this is a step to help alleviate the problem and give our staff and those rescue facilities the breathing room that they need.”
- Supervisor Buddy Mendes agreed with Pacheco that the ordinance will not fully solve the overpopulation problem, but it gives the county the ability to crack down on backyard breeders.
- “This is a major problem everywhere, especially the rural areas,” Mendes said. “I’ve been farming for almost 50 years, and I’ve never seen it as bad as it is today. The amount of dogs that are actually just running around free impacts just everywhere. So this is something that really needed to be taken care of. I’m sure happy they did it.”
