The DeKalb County Commission is scheduled to consider the Problem Animal Ordinance at its April 9, 2024 meeting.
All pet owners, breeders, shelters, foster pet caretakers, and individuals who adopt, transfer, or sell pets in DeKalb County would be affected by this proposed new law. In addition, it would be required to collect and maintain information about individuals who acquired pets.
It is important for the county to hear from voters about this proposal.
Among other excessive requirements, the proposed county ordinance:
- Requires owners of female companion animals to obtain a litter permit prior to or within one week after the birth of the litter. Permit fees are mentioned, but no amounts are given. This is in addition to federal and Georgia dog and cat breeder requirements.
- Requires all persons, not just breeders, to obtain a litter permit when advertising a companion animal under 6 months of age locally for sale, gift, or transfer.
- Limiting the number of permits that can be issued to a household in a 12-month period. However, the proposed number is blank in the ordinance. It is unclear whether households or female companion animals are limited to one birth per year.
- Allows DeKalb County Animal Services to waive litter permit fees for rescue groups and foster care providers. Other requirements are not waived.
- Requires litter permit holders to permanently store the names and addresses of all persons who pick up animals for testing.
- For puppies and kittens that are “diagnosed as sick” within one week of the date of sale, litter permit holders will be required to cover the medical costs up to the purchase price. As drafted, this provision does not require veterinary documentation of the disease, does not allow pet sellers/adopters to have their pets examined by their own veterinarians, and does not allow purchasers or sellers to It does not provide due process for either.
- Requires puppies and kittens to be sold, gifted, or transferred only from the location listed on the adoption permit.
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Posted by Liz on April 7, 2024. Current articles are kept under Featured. You can follow responses to this entry via RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed. 