Panel OKs Tougher Rules for Unaltered Pets

After more than two hours of testimony from animal activists and pleas by a group of fifth-graders, a Los Angeles City Council committee Monday pushed ahead controversial proposals aimed at reducing the number of unaltered and stray dogs and cats.

If adopted by the full City Council, the new rules and higher fees would give Los Angeles what is believed to be the toughest ordinance on spaying and neutering of any major city in America. The proposals are expected to be heard before the council within two to three weeks.

The rules, also aimed at reducing the number of animals euthanized at the city’s shelters, have the strong backing of animal rights and rescue groups but are opposed by hobbyist breeders. While the issue has been debated for decades, proponents have only recently gained the political clout to further their cause. Among their backers Monday was Katherine Riordan, Mayor Richard Riordan’s daughter, who serves on the city’s Animal Regulation Commission.

The proposals, moved forward Monday at the direction of Public Safety Committee Chairwoman Cindy Miscikowski, would increase the current license fee of $30 for an unaltered dog to $100 and require anyone who owns a dog or cat that has a litter to pay an additional $100 for an annual breeding license. All cats would have to be kept indoors unless they are spayed or neutered. Violators could face a $500 fine.

Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who called for the tough new rules a year ago, urged the Public Safety Committee on Monday to quickly move the matter forward, saying the city needs a “rigorous, aggressive education program” to combat a pet overpopulation crisis.

Breeders have mounted widespread opposition to the proposals, which would limit them to only one litter per household per year and double the current $50 breeding permit fee. Breeders say that the measures would punish only responsible owners and do little to curb pet overpopulation. They also fear that the action in Los Angeles could trigger stiff rules nationally that could severely curtail or even prohibit all breeding.

“There are already at least six copycat proposals,” Mary Di Blasi of Perris said in an interview. A legislative advocate for the California Federation of Dog Clubs and other breeder organizations, she cited examples of proposals in San Diego, Kern County, Berkeley and Contra Costa County.

The debate is particularly bitter here because zoning laws for decades virtually prohibited pet breeding in residential areas. As a result, no one now holds a breeding license in the city. Any breeders are doing it illegally, and fear that they quickly will be shut down by zoning officials.

However, several backers of the proposal said Monday that hundreds of ads appear weekly in newspapers and on bulletin boards offering home-bred puppies and kittens.

While city officials concede that more workable zoning laws are needed, they say that is not likely to happen before new rules, including a crackdown on breeders, take effect, possibly within six months.

The proposed crackdown includes a requirement that breeders publish their permit number in ads offering puppies and kittens for sale.

The City Council last year authorized hiring a five-member task force to enforce the upcoming rules, and tens of thousands of dollars in additional funds and resources have been pledged by the mayor, volunteer groups and rescue organizations.

Community programs are planned to make sterilization services affordable and convenient. Dan Knapp, general manager of the Department of Animal Services, said extensive education programs will be offered, particularly in communities with the most severe animal overpopulation problems: Pacoima, South-Central and the Harbor area.

Enforcement will include concerted efforts to cite owners of unlicensed or loose dogs and to monitor newspaper ads and pet stores, Knapp said at a news conference Monday after the committee hearing. “Schoolchildren will not have to walk in fear,” Knapp said as about 30 youngsters from Albion Street School in Los Angeles crowded around him.

Several of the children from the Lincoln Heights neighborhood spoke in favor of the proposed rules at the hearing. Many told of incidents in which they were threatened by stray dogs.

“My teacher tells me to write something nice, but I can’t because I’m mad,” said Elea Hernandez of Lincoln Heights, who described her fear of dogs on her trek to and from school. “We punish the dogs by killing them, but it’s not their fault.”