Animal registry ordinance could help curb overpopulation and backyard breeding

A new ordinance would require Indianapolis pet owners to register dogs that are not spayed or neutered. The measure aims to ease animal overpopulation in Marion County and stop backyard breeding

Indianapolis Animal Care Services has been well over capacity at its aging shelter for years. The new proposal aims to help stem the intake by requiring owners to register dogs that are unaltered, not spayed or neutered, and agree to proper vet care.

Abbey Brands, director of the Department of Neighborhood Services, said the measure will start with education for owners.

“Just to try to be able to meet them where they are as far as care for their animals,” Brands said.

Animal care officer Michael Stockton said unauthorized backyard breeding is responsible for thousands of uncared for dogs and is a public safety issue.

“These are the dogs that ended up running loose in our streets, attacking citizens, getting shot, hit by cars,” Stockton said. “They're the dogs that end up in the abuse, neglect, abandonment situations that we investigate.”

Dozens of animal care workers and volunteers attended the meeting of the Metropolitan Economic Development Committee this week to show support.

The proposal creates a free annual registry where owners must register any unaltered dog more than six months old with the Marion County Unaltered Animal Registry. Owners must also maintain health records, report new litters and microchip puppies before they are sold or transferred.

A first offense will be met with a warning and education about the offense. Continued violations may result in fines.

A few private breeders spoke against the proposal at the meeting. Councilor Michael-Paul Hart said registered breeders are not the targets of this proposal.

“[We're] getting to the folks that are bad actors at the end of this, and it's unfortunate that good actors do have to go through some extra steps,” Hart said.

The proposal passed out of committee and now heads to the full council. The city broke ground on a new shelter last month which is also supposed to help the overpopulation problem.