Unlicensed (backyard) breeding is illegal in New York. Right now these laws are not being enforced, leading to far too many innocent dogs being euthanized with taxpayer money. Every year, hundreds of dogs are killed in New York City's Animal Care and Control (ACC) shelters, many of them likely the product of backyard breeding.

Right now, people call 311 to report illegal breeding and sales, but most of those complaints get closed without investigation. Tickets are closed citing "no evidence" despite open advertising of puppies for sale on public online platforms.

This petition seeks a change in protocol; that the public have direct access to New York City's Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad (ACIS) to report suspected breeders and submit evidence such as ads, license plate numbers or photos, as dealers are now frequently selling the animals from vehicles and in parking lots.

We also seek a change in penalty structure; holding the breeder responsible for the ongoing costs of maintaining seized dogs as the animals await rehoming. These costs include food, fostering/boarding, vet care and training. These costs are in addition to the fines already imposed by the city.

This would create a system that is self-funding as the financial burden falls on the breeders, NYC's communities can become truly proactive in reporting, dogs will be placed in more stable situations as routine screening practices will be in place, there will be a chilling effect on the attractiveness of backyard breeding as a revenue stream, and best of all, far fewer dogs will be killed.