PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia City Council approved Thursday a three-year pause on what it calls “backyard” dog breeding.
Its unanimous passage was met with a roar of applause by dog lovers in City Council chambers. The bill is designed to address a ballooning population of stray dogs at the city’s ACCT animal shelter.
Volunteer Rachel Handis said the overpopulation has deadly consequences for the sheltered dogs.
“Instead of going to the front door to be adopted, they’re going to the back room to be euthanized. Some dogs are wagging their tails. Others are frozen in fear,” said Handis. “I saw a dog being walked back there because not one person applied to adopt her. Seeing her face looking down at the floor like she did something wrong is something you can never forget.
Sponsor Cindy Bass said the glut of stray dogs at the shelter has also led to the spread of the Parvo Virus because many so-called “backyard breeders” don’t vaccinate their dogs. The virus infects the gastrointestinal tract of unvaccinated puppies and is often fatal.
The bill does allow the breeding and sale of puppies only by state-licensed kennels. An American Kennel Club representative testified that it would hurt small breeders, but advocates argued it’s not hard for legitimate breeders to get a license.
Unless the mayor vetoes the bill, it takes effect in 90 days. Council will also study how it impacts shelters.
Other bills passed at this week’s session include a requirement that businesses shut down for selling tobacco products to minors must complete a training course about the issue before they can reopen. Sponsor Anthony Phillips says he hopes it will cut down on the practice.
It’s not punitive, it’s about responsible governance and we want to make sure young people are protected,” he said.
Council also approved a ballot referendum to make the Youth Ombudsman a permanent part of city government.