The Rules Committee voted Nov. 3 to approve a substitute to amend the city’s animal-dealer and related code provisions (bill 20250794). Staff said the substitute consolidates technical clarifications and policy provisions, including adding ferrets to the list of animals covered by the dealer definition, revising the definition of “hobby breeder” to include breeding for profit, clarifying application and vaccination language, restoring previously omitted code sections, and updating fine-and-fee schedules.

Staff described the substitute as largely technical cleanup and corrective: it restores language from code sections that were omitted in an earlier rewrite and amends part 18 (fine and fee schedules) to align penalties with the updated code. The substitute also attaches revised exhibits that were not filed with the original bill.

After the committee approved the substitute by voice vote and advanced the bill as substituted 7-0, the chair asked whether stakeholders (pet dealers, shelters, breeders) had been given the opportunity to comment. Laura Hartung of the Office of General Counsel said they had not. Council members said the amendments aim to give clearer direction to code enforcement and cited cases of properties operating as home businesses with large numbers of animals — for example, “homes that have a 100 plus dogs in it” — as motivating the cleanup. The chair reminded community members they could still provide input at the upcoming council night before the full council takes the measure.

The substitute passed in committee with no recorded opposition; the chair encouraged any affected parties to provide input before the full council vote.