‘There are So Many Animals in Need of Homes Already’: Readers Blast Hobby Breeding Ordinance

Some residents aren’t happy with a proposed ordinance the City Council introduced Monday that would allow residents to breed small numbers of animals without getting a commercial kennel license.

Right now, the city ordinance requires those who breed animals for sale in most cases to obtain a kennel license. However, the proposed ordinance would only require hobby breeders to get a multiple animal permit. Hobby breeders could breed no more than two litters per year. They could have up to six animals over 6 months old of the species being bred—but no more than eight animals total. For example, a household could have six breeding dogs and two pet cats.

Despite those limits, several readers questioned why Minnetonka wanted to make it easier for people to breed animals.

Kristen Klemann wrote:

• “Why on earth does Minnetonka want to become the place to move if you want to be a backyard breeder? This is a moronic idea and who ever introduced it deserves a slap upside the head. What's next? Come here if you only want to grow a LITTLE bit of weed in your yard?”

Others said the ordinance shouldn’t be allowed since there are so many homeless animals already.

Martha Theis wrote:

• “As a Minnetonka resident I am appalled that the city would even consider this! There are so many animals in need of homes already, why would the city of Minnetonka let residents add to the problem?”

Lisa Eiteljorge Foss added:

• “Are you KIDDING ME???? Good God! Take a trip down to any Humane Society and then justify how this is even a possibility! Find some other way to make a buck other than through the unbridled breeding of animals. People just keep getting more stupid by the day. Unbelievable.”

Police Chief Mark Raquet said city staff recommended the ordinance to clarify the rules and make them more transparent in the wake of two appeals last year—especially since there isn’t currently a firm number on how many animals someone can have. Putting clear limits in the city ordinance will take pressure off the community service office when residents make a request, he said.

“There’s really no gray area,” Raquet said.

Councilman Dick Allendorf asked why the ordinance will allow up six breeding animals: “That seems to me to be high and asking for a problem.”

Raquet said some people on the committee that drafted the ordinance wanted more while others wanted less. The city arrived at the number six after talking with a breeder about how many animals are needed to breed healthy animals.

The policy also allows staff to consider relevant criteria—such as the size of lot, proximity of neighbors and previous complaints—when considering whether to grant a permit.

Monday’s meeting was only to introduce the hobby breeder ordinance. It would be adopted after second consideration.