Salt Lake County endorses ordinance regulating puppy mills

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake County Council voted unanimously Tuesday to endorse Utah's first-ever ordinance to regulate puppy mills.

The "Volume Dog Breeders" ordinance will require anyone in the unincorporated county to obtain an annual license if they breed more than one litter of dogs during a 12-month period.

Dogs used for breeding purposes would have to be given a rest between breeding cycles with no more than two litters delivered during an 18-month period.

Standards for protecting breeding dogs from the elements would be required as well as annual examinations by licensed veterinarians. Detailed records of any dog being bred would have to be kept for a minimum of five years.

Salt Lake County Council Chairman Joe Hatch said the county would act on complaints or when they become aware of animals in the county animal shelters that were produced in mills.

Breeders who fail to comply with the newly proposed ordinance could be charged with a class B misdemeanor, which carries a maximum fine of $1,000 and a penalty of up to six months in jail.

About 20 other municipalities across the country have passed similar ordinances. The bill was endorsed after its first reading. The council will address the issue again before it can be passed into law.

— Marjorie Cortez