Clark County commissioners are sounding the alarm on illegal pet breeding. Commissioner Michael Naft led a call for stronger punishments for unlicensed breeders during a meeting yesterday, FOX5 Vegas reports. Budgetary restraints and surging populations at shelters are making it increasingly difficult to provide for these animals, as Naft outlined a plan to bring the plight back to discussion next month.
As the debate heats up, Naft proposes we look at "capping the number of breeder licenses that we issue, consider rather than rewarding bad behavior, perhaps having either an educational element, or a provisional license, rather than simply offering a license to someone who's operating illegally," in a statement obtained by Nevada Current. To underscore the urgency, the same report indicates Southern Nevada shelters are at breaking points, with The Animal Foundation (TAF), a significant government-funded shelter, taking in an extreme increase in surrendered pets when compared with last year's figures.
The plight of animals like Amelia Mayte, a shih tzu puppy with severe health issues, handed over as if disposable by an illegal breeder, strengthens the call for change. "That illegal breeder knew a family and just gave them the puppy. They realized there was something wrong. The dog can’t hold up her head. She can’t walk," Annoula Wylderich, founder of Animal Protection Affiliates, told Nevada Current.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick expressed support for revisiting regulations. "I just think that it’s high time," she stated at the meeting, recognizing the struggle to provide safe places for these creatures. Currently, the fine for illegal breeding stands at $500, but activists like Gina Greisen of Nevada Voters for Animals are pushing for a steeper $5,000 penalty to deter the lucrative, illegal business, Greisen communicated this to Nevada Current, adding the current laws are not strictly enforced.
The commission must also deal with staffing difficulties in Animal Control, a vital element for enforcement. Kirkpatrick conveyed via text that they have been "hiring non-stop for that department," acknowledging the enforcement challenges, as mentioned on Nevada Current.
