| The Issue: A request for action has been made to the City Council of Irvine, California to consider a proposed ordinance that would ban retail pet shops from selling dogs and cats. Two other ordinances have also been proposed that provide for mandatory spay/neuter and a ban on traveling animal exhibit performances. The Impact: The request calls for the Council to consider the following ordinances: - Prohibition of retail sale of dogs/puppies and cats/kittens from stores located in Irvine, with a "grandfather" provision that would protect the one store in Irvine that currently sells pets for some defined period.
- Mandating that dogs and cats over the age of six months be spayed or neutered when the animal is stray and picked up by Animal Control or housed at the Animal Care Center for the third time; and
- Prohibition of performances featuring large or exotic animals in Irvine (e.g., rodeos, or circuses featuring elephants, lions and tigers).
NOTE: No official text of any of the ordinances has been made available. This initiative reflects an ongoing campaign by extremists who wish to limit the availability of pets to the public. The Irvine proposal (delivered in the form of a memo from the Mayor) is the result of meetings between the Mayor and local animal welfare proponents who have asked the City Council to consider prohibiting retail pet stores from selling dogs and cats. The City Council placed the proposal on its agenda and voted 4-1 to move forward on drafting formal plans. The only dissenting council member was Jeff Lalloway who said he was unwilling to support government action on retail pet shops that outweighs individual human rights. PIJAC Position: PIJAC strongly supports the right of pet owners to have options as to where they obtain their animals based on the pet owner's individual circumstances, needs and preferences. Pet stores provide healthy, responsibly raised pets to the public, and should serve as one of the options pet owners may turn to in choosing a companion animal. Discriminatory bans against the sale of animals by pet stores are poor public policy, and are harmful to pets and pet owners. Such bans do not benefit animals or the pet owning public. Recommended Action: According to published reports, the proposed measure appears headed for passage. Even though a public hearing has not been set at this time, retail pet stores and pet owners should not wait for a public hearing on this proposal. All citizens of the city of Irvine are strongly encouraged to contact members of the City Council to voice opposition to this anti-pet proposal. You may wish to make the following points, in your own words: - Contrary to the claims of some advocates, research demonstrates that pet store puppies are as healthy, or healthier, than puppies from any other source.
- Most pet stores obtain their puppies from responsible breeders, and customers choosing pet store puppies overwhelmingly end up with healthy and well-socialized pets.
- A ban targeting pet stores to protect animals is not rational. Pet stores are already more heavily regulated than any other source of animals.
- Regulations on business should be based on a rational relationship between the restrictions and a goal serving the public interest. This proposal does not meet that standard.
It is critical that Council Members be contacted by pet stores and other businesses dealing with pets and pet products, as well as pet owners and others who love pets, BEFORE this proposal ever gets scheduled on a Council agenda. If a hearing is scheduled, all persons able to do so should attend! When a hearing date is announced, or there is some other change in status, PIJAC will post a revised Pet Alert on the Breaking News page of its website to advise members and to recommend appropriate action. You are encouraged to check the PIJAC website regularly for additional information. Those having questions about this proposal should contact PIJAC's Michael Maddox via email at michael@pijac.org or by phone at 202-452-1525, ext. 106. | 
