L.A. Becomes First City to Ban Animal Sacrifices

Los Angeles became the first city in the nation Tuesday to ban animal sacrifices under any circumstances, including during religious rituals.

The City Council approved an ordinance that makes such killings punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The only dissenter in the 10-1 vote was Councilman Robert Farrell, who argued that such a law would restrict religious freedoms in immigrant communities, where animal sacrifice is “an expression of people’s faith.”

Among those who will be affected, he said, are those who practice Santeria, a Caribbean religion that mixes Roman Catholic and African rituals. No Santeria practitioners publicly opposed the ban. The ordinance exempts ritualistic slaughter of animals for food.

As many as 300 reported animal sacrifices have occurred in Los Angeles in the last year.