Difficult situations are commonplace at Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS), but for Dayna Warren, a former intake worker, a troubling trend stood out during her three-year tenure. Female dogs, heavily pregnant or in the midst of giving birth, were frequently abandoned at the shelter. Often, their litters arrived in such dire condition that euthanasia was the only option.
Warren recounted a particularly distressing incident: a dog and her puppies, confiscated by IACS, were reunited with their owner under the condition of a reclaim fine. The owner’s response was unsettling. “She asked if she could take one puppy to sell in the parking lot to raise money for the rest,” Warren, now working in the medical department, recalled.
These heartbreaking scenarios stem largely from backyard breeding, a practice where inexperienced individuals breed dogs without regard for safety or responsibility. According to Chris Roberson, a volunteer at IACS, this has contributed to what he calls an “animal welfare crisis” in Indianapolis.
In response, city-county counselors have introduced a proposal to establish a registry for unaltered dogs as a preliminary step in addressing the issue legislatively. Under the proposal, owners not classified as commercial breeders or brokers must report litters within two weeks of birth. Each litter will receive a unique ID, mandatory for all subsequent transactions involving the puppies.
“The conditions these dogs endure are appalling and inhumane,” Warren lamented. “Without regulation, these practices persist. Hopefully, those profiting from dogs in the future will be those who genuinely care for them.”
The ordinance emphasizes education and outreach, aiming to engage owners before enforcement measures. Initial violations prompt outreach from IACS, with subsequent offenses incurring fines: $50 for a second offense, potentially waived with proof of spay or neuter within 30 days, and $150 for subsequent violations.
Roberson stressed that unchecked breeding exacerbates shelter overcrowding and public health risks, citing instances where unvaccinated and unsocialized dogs pose threats to public safety.
While the ordinance draws on similar laws from other cities like Bloomington and Fort Wayne, its focus on curbing backyard breeding aims to replicate successes in reducing such practices elsewhere. Despite recent state-level legislation affecting pet store sales, the new Indianapolis ordinance excludes commercial breeders regulated under state law.
Looking forward, Roberson remains optimistic about the ordinance’s potential impact. He hopes to see a significant decrease in backyard breeding, envisioning a community shift towards responsible pet acquisition and support for shelter adoptions.
As the ordinance progresses through committee hearings, efforts to address shelter infrastructure issues continue. With over 100 dogs currently without permanent kennels at IACS, the need for additional resources is urgent.
Ultimately, the goal is clear: to mitigate the harms of backyard breeding, alleviate shelter overcrowding, and promote responsible pet ownership across Indianapolis.
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