Salt Lake County Proposes Changes to Dog Breeder Ordinance

Salt Lake County, Utah, has introduced changes to its recently approved dog breeder ordinance to allow certain breeders the opportunity to obtain a license every five years instead of every year. A public hearing on the issue is scheduled for Tuesday, March 29, 2011.

The original ordinance, adopted in December 2010, requires dog breeders who whelp more than one litter of puppies per year to obtain an annual breeder license. It also sets forth minimum standards of pet care and record keeping requirements.

Now, the council has proposed changing the ordinance to allow breeders to obtain a five year license if they are a member in good standing of a club recognized by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club. The ordinance also includes a process for an organization to be recognized by the county if the breed they represent is not recognized by the AKC or UKC.

In addition, the council has proposed making the ordinance applicable to a breeder who whelps any litter, as opposed to breeders who whelp more than one litter per year.

Shawni Larrabee, director of Salt Lake County’s Animal Services, indicated in a memo that the changes are being proposed in response to individuals who spoke out against the original ordinance at the public hearings. Many had wanted the council to distinguish between responsible and irresponsible breeders.

“It was clear from the public meeting that one of the biggest frustrations that many people had with the ordinance was that it didn’t acknowledge that there is a difference between responsible and irresponsible breeding,” Larrabee wrote. “We at animal services agree that there are responsible breeders in our community and that any puppies produced from these individuals are much less likely to appear in our shelters.” The council is scheduled to hear and possibly adopt the ordinance at its meeting on March 29. To view the proposed changes in their entirety, click here.

To read Larrabee’s memo, click here.