Permission to Cross Post

Below is the AKC Legislative Alert on the proposed Miami-Dade Ordinance.

The proposed ordinance includes zoning changes and pet limit laws, breeder licensing and mandatory microchipping.

The AR groups have targeted Florida and is working to get similar legislation passed in Palm Beach County and other parts of the state.

Your help is needed. Florida residents that can attend the public hearing on December 18th are urged to do so. If you cannot attend or live out of state, please send an email or call the county commissioner to respectfully voice your opposition.

If you own more than four dogs and live on less than an acre, which of your dogs will you give up? and this will be decided by a public hearing!

Thank you for your support,

Linda Hartheimer
Legislative Liaison
Weimaraner Club of America
http://grayhart-weimaraners.gotpetloversonline.com/

http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3379

Miami-Dade County Proposes Drastic Changes for Animal Owners
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[Wednesday, December 12, 2007]
The Miami-Dade County Commission will be holding a public hearing at 9:30am on Tuesday, December 18th to discuss a variety of changes to the animal control ordinance including limiting the number of pets a resident may own, implementing hobby breeder licensing, requiring mandatory microchipping for dog breeders and restricting rescue organizations. Concerned dog owners and breeders are asked to attend and speak against these proposed changes. If you are unable to attend, please send an email to the county commissioners or call their offices. As always, please be polite and respectful.

Summary of the Proposed Changes

Zoning Changes and Pet Limits:
The revised ordinance will limit the number of dogs a resident may own based on the size of the property. If you own more than the allowed number, you will be considered a kennel and a public hearing will be held to decide if you may keep your animals. Additionally, you will be required to allow animal control to inspect your premises and must meet specified kennel standards.

These thresholds are arbitrary and do not take in to account the reproductive capability of the animals. A resident could be deemed a kennel even if none of the animals are capable of reproducing or are ever used for breeding! There does NOT appear to be a clause to protect those residents who already own more than the allowed number.
a.. If the property is less than one acre, a resident may have no more than 4 dogs.
b.. If the property is less than two acres, a resident may have no more than 6 dogs.
c.. If the property is two acres or more, a resident may own up to eight dogs.
Hobby Breeder License:
The county currently allows a lifetime license, but under the new proposal this would be an annual license. Additionally, the fee for the license is not specified in the ordinance and could easily be very expensive, placing an unreasonable burden on local, responsible breeders. State law provides a definition of pet dealer, which is the same as the one used in this ordinance. There is no compelling reason to spend resources and taxpayer money to license breeders who fall below that threshold.

Pet Dealer and Kennel Inspections:
The new ordinance would require anyone who qualifies as a "pet dealer" (anyone who sells more than 20 dogs or 2 litters in one year, whichever is greater) or who requires a kennel license (anyone who exceeds the thresholds set above) to be inspected by animal control. The fees for these licenses are not specified within the ordinance, but due to the expense to animal control to conduct these inspections, it is reasonable to assume they would be very expensive.

The standards set for kennels are designed for commercial enterprises, but may not be reasonable or workable for someone who simply owns 5 animals or who breeds perhaps 3 litters a year in their home.

Additionally, these same standards do not apply to city or county facilities. If they are for the health and safety of the animals, then they should apply consistently to all facilities.

Breeders Must Microchip:
The new ordinance would require that all animals sold be implanted with a microchip and provide that information to animal control. Many animals will be sold to new owners outside the county, therefore this provision creates an unnecessary financial burden for both breeders and animal services who must develop and administer a program to track this information. Animal control is not required to microchip animals that they place.

As part of our ongoing efforts to promote responsible dog ownership, the AKC encourages dog owners to properly identify their pets. We believe, however, that the final decision about identification-whether by collar, tattoo or microchip-should be made by the owner, not the government.

Rescues:
If adopted, the new ordinance would allow shelters to release animals only to animal rescues registered as a 501 (c)(3) in Florida. This will deprive the county of being able to use many breed and club rescues that for tax filing purposes have not elected to become 501(c)(3)s. This will mean fewer animals are fostered and placed, leading to more euthanizations.

Tethering:
The new ordinance would make it illegal to tether a dog outside unless the dog can be supervised by the responsible party and limits tethering to three hours.

Additional Requirements:
a.. Would hold landlords responsible for the actions of any animal maintained on premises they own. Fewer property owners will be willing to rent to animal owners, potentially increasing shelter populations.
b.. License fees for intact and sterilized animals are not specified within the ordinance, so there is no way to judge if these will be reasonable. Residents are best served by having license fees set in the ordinance itself and then having the county commission adjust them when necessary.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
a.. Attend the County Commission meeting on December 18th.
9:30 am
Commission Chambers, Second Floor of the Stephen P. Clark Center
111 N.W. First Street,
Miami, FL 33128

b.. Send a letter or email to the county commissioners asking them to oppose these changes. District 1 - Barbara J Jordan
305-375-5694 Fax 3055-474-3011
District1@miamidade.gov

District 2 - Dorrin D Rolle
305-375-4833 - Fax 305-694-2781
District2@miamidade.gov

District 3 - Andrew M Edmonson
305-375-5393 - Fax 305-638-6906
District3@miamidade.gov

District 4 - Sally A Heyman
305-375-5128 - Fax 305-372-6179
District4@miamidade.gov

District 5 - Bruno Barreiro (Commission Chairman)
305-643-8525 - Fax 305-643-8528
District5@miamidade.gov

District 6 - Rebeca Sosa
305-375-5996 - Fax 305-267-6366
District6@miamidade.gov

District7 - Carlos A Gimenez
305-375-5680 - Fax 305-372-6103
District7@miamidade.gov

District 8 - Kathy Sorenson
305-375-5218 - Fax 305-372-6073
District8@miamidade.gov

District 9 - Dennis C, Moss
305-375-4832 - Fax 305 234-4938
District9@miamidade.gov

District 10 - Javier D. Souto
305-375-4835 - Fax 305 375-3456
District10@miamidade.gov

District 11 - Joe A Martinez
305-375-5511 - Fax 305-375-5883
District11@miamidade.gov

District 12 - Jose Diaz
305-375-4343 - Fax 305 372-6109
District12@miamidade.gov

District 13 - Natacha Seijas
305-375-4831 - Fax 305-375-2011
District4@miamidade.gov

Mayor Carlos Alvarez
305-375-5071 - Fax 305-375-3618
mayor@miamidade.gov

County Attorney Murray Greenberg
305-375-5151 - Fax 305-375-5634
atty@miamidade.gov

County Manager George M. Burges
305-375-5311 - Fax 305-375-1262
Manager@miamidade.gov