From AKC - Chula Vista update

	Ask Chula Vista Council to Oppose MSN TOMORROW (3/13)
	Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:09:45 -0400
	AKC's Government Relations Department <mba@akc.org>

March 12, 2012

Dear AKC Delegates, Club Officers, Judges and Breeders,

Please share this information with club members and concerned dog owners in the Chula Vista area.

The Chula Vista City Council will hold their second and final hearing tomorrow, Tuesday, March 13^th on an ordinance that will establish new kennel definitions and regulations and require animals to be sterilized on a second impoundment.

Attendees at the February 28^th city council meeting understood that the kennel/cattery language would be removed and discussed by a stakeholder group prior to another vote. As this has not happened, the AKC believes the only prudent course of action is to defer this item until discussions can be held and a consensus can be reached by community members.

Responsible breeders and dog owners are encouraged to attend the city council meeting or contact the councilmembers and ask them to remove this ordinance from the agenda in order to convene a stakeholder group.

Chula Vista City Council Meeting

Date:  Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Time:  4pm (Agenda Item #3)

Location:  City Council Chambers, City Hall-Building 100, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA

Summary:

Chapter 6.22 of the proposed ordinance would require the mandatory sterilization of any animal the second time it is impounded. The two violations may occur years apart and not be a true reflection of a habitually irresponsible owner. If a dog gets loose one time as a 6-month old puppy and is then accidentally released by a gardener 5 years later, that does not signify a problem animal.

The proposed ordinance also continues to define a "pet seller" as anyone who sells more than two cats or dogs in a twelve-month period in the city. The term is only used in the definitions section and is never referenced again, making the purpose of this definition unclear, as well as how "pet sellers" may be impacted.

The measure also defines a kennel as a facility which maintains seven or more adult dogs (over four months of age) and establishes a variety of regulations to govern these facilities including requiring an annual inspection and payment of an undisclosed fee. 

What You Can Do

• Attend the Chula Vista City Council Meeting on Tuesday March 13^th and speak against the proposed ordinance.  Please ask that the item be removed from the agenda and that a stakeholder group be convened to discuss appropriate regulations for kennels and catteries.
• Contact the Mayor and City Council members and ask them to oppose this ordinance as drafted:

Mayor and City Council Office:  Phone: (619) 691-5044, Fax: (619) 476-5379

Mayor Cheryl Cox:  Click here to email her using the city's web form

Councilmember Rudy Ramirez:  rramirez@ci.chula-vista.ca.us

Councilmember Patricia Aguilar:  Click here to email her using the city's web form

Councilmember Pamela Bensoussan:  pbensoussan@chulavistaca.gov

Councilmember Steve Castenada:  scastaneda@chulavistaca.gov

AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) will provide more information as it becomes available.  For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.