April 7, 2022
https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/montgomery-al-vote-overreaching-animal-ordinance-delayed-4-19-continued-opposition-needed/
Please share this information with animal owners in Montgomery, Alabama.
UPDATE: The Montgomery City Council did not take action on a proposed animal
ordinance at its April 4, 2022 meeting. It will likely be on the agenda of the
April 19th meeting. This gives resident animal owners additional time to
continue contacting city council members to state concerns with the proposed
ordinance.
As previously reported, among numerous overreaching and problematic provisions
in the proposed ordinance:
• It would be unlawful to engage in the business of breeding, buying, selling,
training, raising, or boarding animals without obtaining a special permit
issued by the Montgomery Humane Society at cost of $150 per year. To obtain a
permit, the applicant must have a valid business license issued by the city;
provide proof of liability insurance for animal bites, injury, or death caused
by an animal; and provide veterinary records for all animals that enter or
leave their care within the 12 months prior to the date of application.
Inspections of premises would be authorized prior to issuance of a permit, on
any renewal, and on any complaint. “Animal Business” and “business venture” are
undefined, so it is assumed that all of these activities would require a
permit, such as the sale of a single animal or conducting animal training on a
volunteer basis.
• An amended section of the proposed ordinance appears to be intended to
address animal fighting. However, as written, it would make it unlawful to
promote, hold, or attend a game, exhibition, . . . or contest involving one or
more animals or involving animals and humans. This could serve to outlaw dog
shows, 4-H events, and other events involving animals. This section also does
not conform with a separate section that allows tethering of dogs in
conjunction with certain events. Therefore, it is unclear which provision
would prevail.
• Both reasonable and overreaching/vague animal care provisions are proposed.
For example, it would be an animal cruelty crime to fail to provide medical
treatment to “any” animal that is sick, diseased, injured, or suffering from
any type of parasitic infestation. It is unclear if an owner, rather than a
veterinarian, would be permitted to provide appropriate care for an animal.
• It would be a crime to fail to “properly groom” an animal, which specifically
would include “cutting or maintaining the animal’s hair to an optimum length
and condition appropriate to the animals’ breed.” The proposed ordinance does
not define “optimum length” or “appropriate condition.”
Enforcement of these and other problematic requirements would no longer be
conducted by the city police department. The Montgomery Humane Society would
be responsible for enforcement of Chapter 4, Animals, of the Code of
Ordinances; all existing, amended, proposed, and future provisions of the
chapter; and would be empowered to confiscate animals.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Animal owners in Montgomery are urged to:
• Review the proposed ordinance.
• Continue contacting the mayor and city council members to express
concerns.
• Attend the city council meeting on April 19, 2022 to voice opposition
to problematic sections of the proposed ordinance. For additional meeting
information and to learn how to sign up to be recognized to speak, contact the
City Clerk’s office at 334-625-2195.
If you are not directly receiving AKC’s legislative alerts by email, you can
click here to sign up. For additional information, please contact AKC
Government Relations at doglaw@xxxxxxx or 919-816-3720.
View AKC’s online advocacy resources:
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GSDCA Legislative Liaison to AKC
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