Fresno County officials are looking to clamp down on illegal pet breeding operations in unincorporated areas.
Fresno County Supervisors Garry Bredefeld and Brian Pacheco are introducing an ordinance on Tuesday that would enact new regulations on pet breeding in order to reduce pet overpopulation.
The big picture: The new ordinance would require breeder permits and place limits on the number of litters that breeders can have per year.
- It would also place restrictions on public animal sales and enact steep penalties for violators.
Go deeper: Anyone breeding dogs or cats would have to obtain a permit for the county to do so, which would allow the county to track them and hold them accountable for their operations.
- Breeders will only be allowed to have one litter per year under the ordinance.
- Violators would face a $1,000 penalty per cat or dog that they have and could also face up to six months in jail.
- The ordinance would also require breeders to display their permits on any advertisements that they have.
What they’re saying: “This ordinance is long overdue,” Bredefeld said. “Unregulated breeding has overwhelmed our animal shelters, led to increased euthanasia rates, and put countless animals at risk. We’re putting an end to the abuse of animals by illegal dog breeders and holding them accountable.”
- Pacheco said there are too many dogs and cats being illegally bred, and many of them end up abandoned in his district and other rural areas.
- “We expect that adding spay and neuter, and licensing requirements, will reduce the impacts that pet overpopulation has on our shelter employees and County taxpayers,” Pacheco said.
