The Rio Rancho, N.M., City Council plans to consider on Wednesday, August 25, an extensive overhaul of its ordinances governing pet businesses and animal facilities, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council reported. For complete text of the proposal, click here.

Among other changes, the city, which bills itself as New Mexico’s fastest-growing with a population of slightly more than 50,000 people, will consider banning the commercial trade of cats and dogs by pet stores.

The city council may consider a “grandfather” provision to the ordinance that would allow pet stores currently selling dogs and cats to continue selling them.

A task force that created the ordinance rationalized the sales ban by stating that it is difficult to determine the origin of dogs and cats sold by pet stores, that pet store dogs and cats often have behavioral and health issues related to their breeding, that pet stores offer inadequate socialization, that pet stores harbor parasites and diseases that place the animals and the public at risk, that pet stores fail to disclose health disorders, and that selling dogs and cats at pet stores leads to pet overpopulation.

The overhaul also proposes that professional pet businesses, including boarding kennels, grooming parlors and services, pet aquatic facilities, pet day care services, pet sitting services, pet stores and training facilities, obtain both business registrations from the city and a professional animal permit from the city’s police department.

The proposal bans commercial breeding kennels from operating within city limits.
In addition, the overhaul would create standards for grooming and boarding businesses, mandate most cats and dogs be spayed and neutered by 6 months of age, and require microchipping of all cats and dogs. <HOME>