ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – New city rules are cracking down on people illegally selling puppies and kittens on Albuquerque’s streets and in parking lots. Those rules give clear authority to the City of Albuquerque’s Animal Welfare Department to seize for sale pets.
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The Humane and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment ordinance (H.E.A.R.T) aims to control the overpopulation of animals. Now, the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department said they have more power to enforce it.
It’s a widespread issue, according to the department: people selling dogs or cats illegally without a permit. “What this bill is, it is not specific to whether someone is housed or unhoused, it says if you are selling animals in public spaces in our city, that’s not allowed,” said Albuquerque City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn.
Monday night, Albuquerque city councilors expanded the H.E.A.R.T ordinance, which was enacted in 2006 to control the overpopulation of dogs and cats in the city. It already prohibited people from illegally selling cats and dogs on public property, but stopped short of mandating that violators would automatically lose their animals. The law now requires the immediate seizure of those animals.
The Animal Welfare Department said the update will make it easier for them to enforce the law. “Prior to this new ordinance being approved, we would have to go through the court system to be able to seize or confiscate any animals. We would need a court order to be able to do that. This new ordinance allows us to bypass that step,” said Director of the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department Carolyn Ortega.
Once the department confiscates the pets, they will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and micro-chipped. Then the owner can reclaim them. “If those pets are not reclaimed in 10 days, they become the property of Animal Welfare,” said Ortega.
The department said they could see a surge in the number of animals in their shelters, but they believe overall this will lead to a reduction in the pet population.
People who are breeding and selling animals without a permit can be charged with a petty misdemeanor. The department said they will call in the Albuquerque Police Department to support them in cases where someone doesn’t cooperate.
