Subject: San Jose’s Animal Crisis Is Exploding–Stop Illegal Breeding Now!

Dear Councilmember [Name],

I  am writing as a San José resident deeply concerned about our city’s  growing animal welfare crisis — a crisis that is entirely preventable.

Every  day, unregulated and illegal backyard breeders contribute to severe  overpopulation, overcrowded shelters, and rising euthanasia rates. This  is not an accident. It is the direct result of San José’s failure to  enact and enforce meaningful breeder regulations.

The truth is simple:

San José Animal Care & Services is now so overwhelmed that it  routinely declines accepting found animals from the public. When a  municipal shelter cannot take in lost or abandoned animals, it is a  clear sign that our system is in collapse. Yet the City has not  addressed the root cause.

Because San José has no enforceable  breeder regulations, unlicensed and irresponsible breeding operations  continue unchecked across our neighborhoods. These backyard breeders  operate in the shadows — prioritizing profit over animal welfare,  producing litter after litter with no oversight, no accountability, and  no standards of care. Meanwhile, our shelters are drowning. Staff are  overwhelmed, kennels are full, and healthy, adoptable animals are losing  their lives simply because there is nowhere for them to go.

Despite  repeated calls from residents, rescuers, and advocates, meaningful  regulatory efforts have been blocked or abandoned. San José cannot  continue to ignore this crisis. It will only worsen unless the City  takes action.

What We Need:

I urge you to  introduce and support strong, enforceable breeder regulations that  protect both animals and the community. Specifically, San José must:

• Require all breeders to be licensed and inspected, irrespective of number of litters

• Prohibit unregulated, illegal backyard breeding

• Impose meaningful penalties on illegal breeding operations

• Invest in public education on responsible pet ownership and adoption

These  are common-sense measures that cities across the country have already  adopted. San José should not fall behind — especially when our shelter  system is at a breaking point.

Please act now.

Enough is enough. We need laws that protect animals, not policies that  enable neglect, suffering, and preventable death. I am asking you, as my  elected representative, to champion humane, responsible, and  enforceable breeder regulations for the sake of our entire community.

Thank you for your leadership, and I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information (optional)]