Albuquerque City Council Passes Update to HEART Ordinance to Protect Animals from Public Sales
Ordinance requires the immediate seizure and care of any animals being sold or given away on public property.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Albuquerque City Council has passed Ordinance O-25-84, updating the City's Humane and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment (HEART) Ordinance to strengthen enforcement against the sale and giveaway of animals on public property, sponsored by District 7 City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn.
The 2006 Albuquerque Humane and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment (HEART) Ordinance was a landmark piece of legislation that set strong standards for the care and protection of animals in our city. Councilor Fiebelkorn worked on that original legislation with then D7 City Councilor Sally Mayer and it’s been the gold standard for animal ordinances since its inception.
The newly passed update requires the immediate seizure and care of any animals being sold or given away on sidewalks, parks, parking lots, and other public property. These animals will be spayed or neutered, microchipped, and held for 10 days before adoption if unclaimed.
“We’ve seen firsthand how selling animals in public places leads to cycles of neglect, abandonment, and overcrowding in our shelters,” said Councilor Fiebelkorn. “Grey areas in the ordinance meant officers were not always enforcing what was on the books. This update ensures we act swiftly to protect animals and hold individuals accountable.”
Key Provisions of Ordinance O-25-84:
- Requires immediate seizure and impoundment of any animals unlawfully offered for sale, exchange, or giveaway on public property.
- Enforcement is clarified as mandatory, ensuring consistent application across City departments.
- Authorization for the City to impound all animals in a person’s public possession when they are found engaging in illegal animal sales.
- Requires intake and care processes, including mandatory spay or neuter surgery, microchipping, and medical evaluation for all impounded animals.
- A clear 10-day holding period for reclaimed animals; unclaimed animals will become property of the Animal Welfare Department.
“This is a win for our animal companions and for the health and safety of our entire community,” added Fiebelkorn. “We’re sending a clear message: Albuquerque will not tolerate the public sale of animals, and we will provide every animal in our care with the support they need to find a loving home.”
The ordinance passed with strong support from the community and advocacy organizations.
The update to the HEART ordinance can be viewed at https://cabq.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7372776&GUID=FCC1ADB3-C816-4FD2-AD62-6A65C01F7C09