Do you have puppies, plan to breed your dog, or want to buy a puppy? Read this first.
Philadelphia’s dog breeding rules have changed.
Philadelphia City Council has passed Bill No. 20989, which establishes a temporary pause on breeding dogs and selling or transferring puppies under 7 months old within the city. The bill’s goal is to reduce unwanted litters, help address shelter overcrowding, improve public safety, and give Philadelphia’s animal welfare system time to recover from the overcrowding crisis that ACCT Philly has been facing, with an average of 22 dogs coming into the shelter every day.
This page explains what the law means, to whom it applies, any exceptions, and where residents can get help.
As we implement this new legislation, portions of the exemption review process may change as needed.
The law creates a temporary 3-year pause on the unlicensed breeding, sale, and transfer of puppies 7 months and under inside the city of Philadelphia.
The rule applies to anyone who lives or does business in the city of Philadelphia.
The following people or groups are exempt from the law:
- Licensed kennels that already have a valid Pennsylvania Dog Law kennel license. Currently, there are none located in Philadelphia.
- Nonprofit animal rescues and shelters that have 501(c)(3) status and are adopting pets out normally. The state law pertaining to kennel licensing includes these organizations if they transfer more than 26 dogs out annually, which most do.
- Service dog, police, or research programs breeding dogs for official work.
- People who re-home one puppy that wasn’t bred or born in Philadelphia, has lived with them for at least 30 days, and is re-homed without making a profit (you can only be repaid for vet or care costs).
If money or any kind of payment changes hands — even for a “rehoming fee” — that is considered a sale. This includes trades. For example, if you give someone a puppy instead of paying them for a service, that counts as “trading”. “Trading” is also not allowed under the new law.
Dog owners in the city of Philadelphia can access our free spay and neuter program! The law does not require your pet to be spayed or neutered, but by doing so you are guaranteeing that they won’t have accidental litters (in addition to the many other benefits). Click here for more information on spaying and neutering.
Accidental litters are a financial burden to owners. The cost of food, preventative care such as vaccines and deworming, and disease risks are just some of the issues that result in puppies being sold or ending up at the shelter. ACCT Philly is committed to working with anyone in Philadelphia who has an accidental litter to help them get their puppies vaccinated and spayed/neutered (as well as the puppies’ parents). Owners may re-home these puppies provided they do not charge any form of payment (financial or otherwise). Click here for tips on re-homing pets.
This bill is a temporary pause for the city of Philadelphia. This bill focuses on backyard breeders who put money above animal health and public safety. People may still obtain puppies from breeders outside the city of Philadelphia if they choose to do so. Raising awareness about the new law will also include information to help residents make informed choices about getting a new dog that won’t result in stray dogs running loose and the spread of disease.
If you’re considering adding a pet to your family, click here for helpful tips and information.
Civil fines may be up to $1,000 per violation for a first offense and up to $2,000 per violation for later offenses. Each puppy or ad may count separately.
The purpose of this legislation is not to discourage pet owners from getting their pets care or asking for help. There is no requirement for clinics or shelters to report breeders, and we strongly discourage them from doing so, as we do not want to deter anyone from getting care for their puppies or the parents.
If you live in the city of Philadelphia, you must ask for and keep the seller’s kennel license number or rescue EIN for one year. Buying a puppy from someone who is not licensed or exempt from the law may result in a fine.
If some breeders are exempt, it becomes nearly impossible to enforce the law fairly.
- The City can’t realistically verify who is truly a UKC or AKC breeder versus someone
claiming to be. - Exemptions open a loophole for anyone to say they’re “registered” or “working toward
registration.” - Consistent, universal rules are simpler, fairer, and more effective — no special treatment.
Rescues are not contributing to the crisis, they are trying to help mitigate it by finding homes for unwanted pets, and therefore are exempt.
ACCT Philly will be enforcing the new law on a complaint-driven basis. Our officers are not proactively looking for people who are breeding. If they come across someone who is, officers will make them aware of the new law and share the resources available such as free spay or neuter to help dog owners avoid accidental litters.
Complaints can be submitted “>via this form. Complaints filed with incomplete information will be kept on record, but officers will not be dispatched unless the form is filled out in full.
ACCT Philly wants to work with our communities — not against them. For years, multiple organizations tried small steps and compromises: free spay/neuter, outreach, education, and help with resources. But while we’ve taken baby steps, the community has been paying the price through more stray and aggressive dogs on our streets, more families put in danger, and the shelter stretched beyond capacity.
At this point, doing nothing — or doing a little — isn’t kindness, it’s avoidance. A temporary pause on breeding is about giving our neighborhoods a chance to breathe, our shelter a chance to recover, and our city a chance to catch up. This is about protecting people and pets, not punishment.
Kennel licenses are issued by the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement. In order to be exempt from the temporary pause on dog breeding and the sale of puppies in Philadelphia, the seller must have an active kennel license issued by the BDLE. Information on licenses and how to obtain them can be found on their website here.