Supporters of the Intact Animal Permit Law are calling for enforcement of the city law that requires a permit number when advertising animals for adoption, hoping to cut down on the number of neglected animals in the community.
Currently, hundreds of ads for adoptable pets are run every day without displaying permit numbers. Supporters of the Intact Animal Permit Law have reached out to both The Times-Picayune and the New Orleans Advocate asking for the publications’ backing, and to require the listing of permit numbers as per the city ordinance unanimously by the City Council and signed into law by Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
“We have received hundreds of letters of support from virtually every humane and rescue group in the New Orleans area as well as statewide and national groups,” says Nita Hemeter, co-founder of Supporters of the Intact Animal Permit Law.
The problem, according to Supporters of the Intact Animal Permit Law, lies with the “backyard breeders,” or anyone who breeds and sells animals, intentionally or unintentionally, without proper oversight or licensure. The activity of these backyard breeders impacts the safety and health of people and animals, as well as overall quality of life in the community.
Specifically, the law in question is designed to regulate the uncontrolled breeding of animals by irresponsible owners. It requires dog owners to spay or neuter their pets or pay for a permit that allows their pet to remain intact or not “fixed,” and if that dog has puppies, that permit number must be listed in any advertisement for their sale. Furthermore, backyard breeders are not paying taxes on the animals they sell without permits.
“Given the thousands of unwanted animals that die in shelters every year, we would prefer that citizens not breed their animals at all,” Hemeter and Jennifer Farwell, the other founders of Supporters of the Intact Animal Permit Law, agree. “If they are going to breed, they should at least care for the animals properly and pay their fair share of taxes and license fees that they make off these creatures.”
