CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY SIXTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. O-25-84 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Tammy Fiebelkorn
ORDINANCE
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Amending Sections 9-2-4-4 And 9-2-3-7 Of The HEART Ordinance Relating To The Sale Or Gifting Of Animals On Public Property (Fiebelkorn)
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WHEREAS, irresponsible and unlawful breeding practices contribute to the overpopulation of companion animals and lead to suffering and severe health problems including bleeding issues and death; and
WHEREAS, the sale, exchange, or giveaway of animals on public property is already prohibited under the HEART Ordinance yet continues to occur in a manner that undermines animal welfare, public safety, and existing regulations; and
WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to deter illicit animal sales by authorizing the immediate seizure and impoundment of animals unlawfully offered in public, and to protect those animals by ensuring they are spayed or neutered and microchipped prior to any lawful disposition; and
WHEREAS, the alteration and microchipping of impounded animals promote responsible pet ownership, improve return-to-owner rates, and reduce long-term public costs associated with sheltering and euthanasia; and
WHEREAS, the continued sale of unaltered animals in unauthorized settings contributes to cycles of neglect, abandonment, and overcrowding in City shelters; and
WHEREAS, the City has a compelling interest in promoting the humane treatment of animals and ensuring compliance with animal control laws through proactive enforcement proactive measures.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
SECTION 1. Sections 9-2-4-4 and 9-2-3-7 of the HEART Ordinance are amended as follows:
? 9-2-4-4 SALE OR GIFT OF AN ANIMAL.
(A) Public Property. No Person shall display, sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away, or otherwise dispose of an Animal upon a street, sidewalk, public park, ...
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