Long Beach May Lift Ban on Dog Breeding

Long Beach is moving closer to lifting its long-standing ban on dog breeding after the American Kennel Club threatened to pull its lucrative championship event out of the city.

The issue has sparked a debate in Long Beach, with critics of the change saying it would lead to more stray dogs that would have to be put to death by animal shelters.

At stake could be millions of dollars in revenue the city receives from the Kennel Club’s annual event.

“It’s a passionate issue,” said Vice-Mayor Jackie Kell, an outspoken animal advocate.

So passionate, in fact, that another council member, Val Lerch, said he received more than 250 e-mails on the matter, easily outpacing those he got on airport expansion or a proposed liquefied natural gas plant.

The controversy started in 2003, when the American Kennel Club warned city officials that the ban could stand in the way of Long Beach becoming the home of its championship event. The club promotes the breeding and welfare of purebred dogs.

The ban prohibits anyone from breeding dogs -- or any other animal -- within city limits or operating kennels for the purpose of breeding.

But it fails to provide the city with the ability to consistently monitor or manage dog breeding, city officials said.

“We have illegal breeding in the city, but we can’t do anything about it unless someone discovers it or tells,” said Kell, who sits on the board of the Golden State Humane Society.

Long Beach is one of the few remaining cities in the state that ban breeding.

City officials decided this year to draft a proposal allowing dog breeding on a limited basis.

Dog activists contend that breeding would lead to a lower rate of adoptions of stray dogs from shelters, and then more dogs would be killed. They would rather see the breeding ban -- in effect since 1982 -- strengthened.

“This is like a slap in the face. There are no shortage of dogs or pets,” an activist told council members at a recent City Council meeting. Legal breeding “could get out of hand. This will only mean a death sentence for more dogs.”

The proposal calls for a $140 breeding permit and a background check on the applicant, and it would restrict breeding to one litter per year. It also would allow animal control officers to enter the homes of suspected breeders without a warrant, making enforcement easier.

But dog activists, seeking a compromise, say the proposal needs to be tightened to discourage underground breeding. They want higher permit fees to offset the costs of monitoring, and stiffer penalties that go beyond suspending or revoking a permit for violations. They also want dogs to bear microchips to keep track of them if they get lost.

At a meeting this month, the council delayed a vote on the proposal and agreed to allow dog activists to help revise it. It is to be presented in February.

“That’s what we were hoping for,” said Justin Rudd, a local animal rights leader. Rudd said he supports responsible dog breeding, but not at the cost of euthanizing stray dogs.

Jack G. Smith, president of the Long Beach Kennel Club, a local affiliate of the national group that holds regional shows in the city, said he looks forward to revising the proposal. “All ideas should come to the table and be explored,” he said. “We all want the same thing.”

That same thing, both sides say, would mean higher adoption rates and fewer dogs euthanized. According to the Bureau of Animal Control, the kill rate of dogs has been steadily declining, but so has the number adopted.

Long Beach euthanized 1,520 dogs in 2004, down from 2,053 in 2003 and 2,586 in 2002. But the number of dogs adopted in 2004 was 1,233, a drop from the 1,418 adopted in 2003 and 1,454 in 2002.

Activists fear that legal dog breeding could further worsen the chances of stray dogs being adopted.

“The logic is there’s not enough homes for all the animals; they’re homeless,” said Shirley Vaughan, president of Friends of Long Beach Animals, a nonprofit group that promotes the welfare of animals. “And if we’re breeding more animals, then those animals that get placed in a home take away a place from a shelter animal.”

There is no evidence to support that view, said Ron Arias, director of the city health department. Few purebred dogs end up in shelters.

Carol Roemer, a retired Long Beach City College art professor, supports breeding dogs -- responsibly. She bred her late cairn terrier -- Tykie, a purebred champion -- twice in the 1990s, producing three puppies the first time and two the second. To avoid violating the ban, she bred Tykie in Garden Grove.

“It’s not fun to try to get around something like that because I feel like I was a responsible breeder,” said Roemer, explaining that the puppies not used for showing were neutered.

Roemer wants to see an ordinance passed allowing responsible dog breeding and cracking down on breeders who use dogs “to make money.”

But some say the American Kennel Club holds too much sway over the city. The organization is interested in making Long Beach the permanent home of the annual championship, but a dog-breeding ban could be a deal breaker, club officials said.

“We think it’s a great place for the dog show,” American Kennel Club spokeswoman Daisy Oaks said. But she added that the dog-breeding ban was a “sticking point” in negotiations. “We’ve been very clear that it’s important to us if we’re going to look at [Long Beach] as a permanent home.”

“The AKC opposes unreasonable breeding restrictions, and we support our local clubs’ efforts to work with city officials to find reasonable compromises that work best in their communities,” Lainie Cantrell, director of public relations, wrote in an e-mail. “We have been working with local fanciers and city officials on the Long Beach issue for the past few years, and we are pleased that Long Beach is considering removing the ban.”

The annual championship, which has also been held in Orlando and Tampa, Fla., brings in millions of dollars in convention and tourism revenue. In 2003, the event brought about $4.6 million to Long Beach, along with national television exposure. It is scheduled to be held in Long Beach in 2006 and 2007.

This leads many dog activists to believe that profit, not animal welfare, is the driving force behind the proposal.

“Is there anyone in favor of increased breeding who is not monetarily benefiting?” an activist asked at the December City Council meeting, drawing applause from other dog activists.

Animal rights leader Rudd said: “I think it’s sad when it gets to that level -- when dollars can speak louder than death rates.”

But city officials deny that the American Kennel Club is calling the shots.

“I don’t think the AKC has that type of influence,” City Manager Gerald R. Miller said. “It wasn’t the AKC that was influencing my recommendation to look at the ordinance. It was not the economic impact or national recognition. Those are good things, but I’m more pragmatic.... I saw a potential problem” with enforcing the ban.

Steve Goodling, president and chief executive of the Long Beach Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, said the championship dog show is so valuable partly because it takes place in December -- a month that is usually slow for conventions.

“However, that is not the main reason everyone was looking at this ordinance,” he said. “The main reason is it’s an ordinance that many have looked at and said it’s not enforceable.”