Projects - BBR & AA Legs - San Antonio Considers Mandatory Spay/Neuter and Breeder Permits

The San Antonio City Council is considering a 5-Year Strategic Plan that includes mandatory spay/neuter and breeder permits, as well as creation of a bill of rights for animals. The plan was generated by the San Antonio Animal Care Services Advisory Board and will be presented to the city council at the June 29th meeting. Fanciers and concerned dog owners are needed to attend the meeting and oppose these proposals.

Breeder licensing fees place undue burden on responsible breeders and owners and fail to address the irresponsible individuals who do not comply with existing law and will not comply with new regulations. Such fees therefore punish responsible breeders who give the care and attention that puppies need in order to grow into healthy, well-adjusted companions and neighbors. Responsible local breeders also provide a support system to new owners; assisting them with housebreaking, training questions, behavior issues and basic new puppy care inquiries.

The AKC believes the answer to population issues is strict enforcement of leash and nuisance laws, rather than passage of new burdensome regulation. The key to resolving this issue is to implement and expand the wide range of programs available to educate the public about responsible breeding and animal ownership practices.

AKC also has serious concerns about establishing a bill of rights for animals. AKC supports the best premises of animal welfare but does not believe that animals have legal rights. Pets may be special members of our families, but they are unable to take responsibility for their actions. Bestowing legal rights on them is the first step in a larger campaign to end pet ownership and breeding altogether.

However, aside from the mandatory spay/neuter proposal and the bill of rights for animals, AKC wishes to applaud the advisory board for many of the initiatives contained in the most recent draft. AKC is particularly pleased to see the outreach and educational plans and the proposals to increase owner retention. The Animal Care Service Advisory Board pursuit of alternative sources of funding is also innovative and will be beneficial in supplementing the animal service budget. AKC looks forward to working with local dog owners to help San Antonio find effective and reasonable solutions to its animal control challenges.

For AKC’s talking points on opposing mandatory spay/neuter, please click here.

What You Can Do:

Attend the City Council meeting June 29th at 9am.

Municipal Plaza Building
103 Main Plaza
San Antonio, Texas 78205

Please contact the Mayor and your City Council member and ask them to oppose these portions of the strategic plan.

Mailing address for all City Council Members:

City of San Antonio PO Box 839966 San Antonio, TX 78283	Mayor Phil Hardberger Phone: (210) 207-7060 Fax: (210) 207-4168 mayorphilhardberger@sanantonio.gov
Dist. 1, Roger Flores, Jr Phone: (210) 207-7279 Fax: (210) 207-7027 rfloresjr@sanantonio.gov	Dist. 2, Sheila McNeil Phone: (210) 207-7278 Fax: (210) 207-7027 district2@sanantonio.gov
Dist. 3, Roland Gutierrez Phone: (210) 207-7064 Fax: (210) 207-7027 district3@sanantonio.gov	Dist. 4, Richard Perez Phone: (210) 207-7281 Fax: (210) 207-7027 rperez@sanantonio.gov
Dist. 5, Patti Radle Phone: (210) 207-7043 Fax: (210) 207-7027 pradle@sanantonio.gov	Dist. 6, Delicia Herrera Phone: (210) 207-7065 Fax: (210) 207-7027 district6@sanantonio.gov
Dist. 7, Elena Guajardo Phone: (210) 207-7044 Fax: (210) 207-7027 district7@sanantonio.gov	Dist. 8, Art Hall Phone: (210) 207-7086 Fax: (210) 207-7027 district8@sanantonio.gov
Dist. 9, Kevin Wolff Phone: (210) 207-7325 Fax: (210) 207-7027 kwolff@sanantonio.gov	Dist. 10, Chip Haass Phone: (210) 207-7276 Fax: (210) 207-7027 chaass@sanantonio.gov

The following city officials also have considerable influence over the development of the Strategic Plan and fanciers are asked to send them a copy of the correspondence that is sent to city council members.

City Manager Sheryl Sculley
Phone: (210) 207-7080
Fax: (210) 207-4217
cm@sanantonio.gov

Asst. City Manager Frances Gonzales
Phone: (210) 207-2200
Fax: (210) 207-4122
francesg@sanantonio.gov