DeKalb County, Georgia – The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously decided on a new policy prohibiting the outdoor selling of dogs, cats, and bunnies. Affecting unincorporated parts of the county, this law seeks to address the urgent problems of pet overpopulation and the sometimes-cruel treatment these animals are sold under.
Supported by Commissioner Michelle Long Spears, the rule targets the selling of dogs at temporary sites such flea markets, roadside layouts, and parking lots.
“This legislation is a vital step in safeguarding our community from the harm caused by irresponsible pet sales. It will reduce the strain on our shelters, prevent unnecessary suffering, and protect residents who unknowingly purchase sick animals. We are also currently working on an update of the tethering ordinance and a retail sales ban,” Spears said in a news release.
Sales of animals without appropriate care or required health documents have shown a concerning trend in the county, which often results in extreme animal neglect and consequent overpopulation in shelters. Advocates for DeKalb Animals, a local animal welfare organization, has strongly endorsed the ordinance. Representing the group, Andrea Seidl said she was relieved the ordinance passed as it will significantly reduce the number of animals ending up in shelters because of irresponsible sales methods.
“This is an important step toward addressing the many instances of animals being sold on streets and in parking lots in DeKalb County, often without water and care, and many of these animals eventually end up in our overcrowded animal shelter. We are thankful to Commissioner Michelle Long Spears for championing this cause for animal welfare,” Seidl said.
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Along with modifications to tethering rules and a possible ban on retail pet sales, this new rule reflects a larger DeKalb County effort toward improved animal care. Targeting the sale of dogs in casual, usually unsupervised settings, the regulation also seeks to curb careless breeding practices causing homelessness of shelters.
Opponents of the temporary pet sales strategy have long underlined the dangers involved in such deals, which lack control and openness and result in the spread of infections and other health problems among sold animals. The new rule should reduce the emotional and financial burden on consumers who wind up with sick animals and pay large veterinary fees.
Operating the DeKalb County Animal Services shelter, LifeLine Animal Project observed that the institution routinely runs over capacity and must euthanize animals weekly to control space. This legislation is considered as a major step towards lowering these figures and enhancing the quality of life for prospective pet owners and animals.
Reflecting on the broader impact of such regulations, Peggy McCarthey, Ph.D., a board member of the Georgia Pet Coalition, applauded the county’s leadership.
“This ordinance is one of the GA Pet Coalition’s priority policies, and we are deeply grateful to Commissioner Long Spears and the Board of Commissioners for their moral leadership and recognition of the cumulative harm caused by illicit breeders. These breeders often use unregulated locations to evade taxes and licensing laws, placing profit over animal welfare,” she stated.
Further academic support for the ordinance came from Lisa Milot, the Annie & Zack Stanton Distinguished Professor of Canine Welfare Law at the University of Georgia. Professor Milot emphasized the broader state crisis
“We are in the midst of an extreme animal shelter crisis in Georgia, and the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners are providing valuable leadership in acting to curtail unethical and unregulated pet sales in parking lots. These pets often end up being cared for or euthanized at public expense when they are no longer wanted or become sick.”
Similar prohibitions already in place in counties including Fulton, Forsyth, and Athens-Clarke, which have seen favorable results from such policies, the ordinance is a part of an expanding trend across Georgia. Now asking other counties within the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners to consider implementing similar rules to provide a consistent approach to animal welfare across the area is the board itself.
