Readers React: City Council should keep strict oversight of L.A. pet stores

To the editor: The Los Angeles City Council may change the definition of “kennel” in the zoning code to exclude pet shops, thereby obviating the need for a kennel permit and allowing these “pet shops” to be in commercial zones. (“Throw humane pet stores a bone,” editorial, Feb. 4)

This would not be an innocuous change. A pet shop is subject to the California Health and Safety Code pet shop provisions, even if it shelters pets. That would also be true of an animal rescue group that is not a nonprofit 501(c)(3) group. An animal rescue group that is a 501(c)(3) and operates a pet shop would be exempt from that statute, but typically would have enough animals in said space to qualify as a kennel — thereby requiring a permit and being subject to inspection.

Under the proposed change, rescues can call their kennels “pet shops,” warehouse animals all over town and — voila! — no Health and Safety code, no kennel permit required, and no inspections mandated. Under this proposal, to be heard in a council committee today, those presenting the most danger to the health and welfare of our pets will lose the most routine oversight.

This proposal is a way for the city to move animals out of the shelters and create the impression that it has a higher live release rate. It would be better for the council to figure out how to honestly place pets into loving homes instead of creating the illusion of placement.

Madeline Bernstein, Los Angeles

The writer is president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles.

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