Officials hope a third attempt to pass a controversial piece of legislation to regulate Chattanooga's for-profit animal industry will pass.
On Monday, the Animal Control Board sent the animal ordinance on permit fees and regulations for animal dealers, kennel owners, animal performances and breeders back to the City Council for final approval. The long-debated ordinance also is aimed at curbing backyard breeding and puppy mills, which officials say are hard to regulate without the necessary laws in place.
Local and national kennel clubs have criticized the ordinance for what they have called overbearing regulations that hurt legitimate breeders and take away their rights to breed small batches of high-end breeds of dogs and cats.
"[The kennel club] is very concerned about those provisions and want to stop anyone that is in any way cruel or neglectful of their animals, but there has to be some respect for people that care about their dogs and, in our case, have purebred dogs," said Ann Raines, a local breeder with the Chattanooga Kennel Club.
The ordinance was changed this summer to exempt hobby breeders with two litters or less a year from permit fees. But the ordinance was delayed again in September after more complaints were made.
At Monday's meeting, members made multiple suggested changes that limit the McKamey Animal Center on its actions during inspections for permits. One of those changes limits what inspectors will look for when they decide whether to issue a permit.
Board Chairman Mike Mallen said this ordinance has been refined multiple times to address quality-of-life issues for animals and public safety, and it is ready to go before the council. He argued that the ordinance is intended to root out those who are harming animals and the industry and won't hurt legitimate businesses.
"[People presume] there's going to be some force of law enforcement banging on doors asking for papers; that's just not the case," Mallen said. "The animal center has made it clear they are aware of existing problems and that's where they are going to go."
Last summer, the original ordinance backfired when officials spent weeks arguing over whether city residents should be allowed to raise chickens in their backyards.
Contact staff writer Joy Lukachick Smith at jsmith@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.