Colton MSN/BSL hearing tonight

Faxed to 909-370-5192

City of Colton

650 N. La Cadena Dr.

Colton, CA 92324

April 18, 2016

Dear Mayor DeLaRosa and City Council members,

The California Federation of Dog Clubs is an association of thousands of dog clubs and owners across the State of California. Formed in 1990, the CFoDC works tirelessly to promote animal welfare, educate the public regarding responsible animal ownership, and protect the rights of responsible animal owners. We administer a disaster relief fund, conduct breed ID workshops for shelter personnel, provide educational information on responsible pet ownership, and man a toll-free assistance line for animal owners who need advice regarding pet training and behavioral issues. We support animal legislation with proven positive benefits to society.

The CFODC is OPPOSED to the mandated sterilization of pets, regardless of exemptions. Some of the reasons for our opposition include:

The ASPCA, the No Kill Advocacy Center, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Kennel Club and many other animal welfare groups are OPPOSED to mandatory sterilization because it creates more problems than it solves.

Sterilization laws increase the numbers of dogs entering our shelters. The Downtown Dog Rescue Project in South LA documented that owners choose to surrender their dogs to shelters primarily due to the costs of the surgical procedure. This is particularly true for low and middle-income working families and seniors. A 2014 PetSmart Charities survey found that 30% of owners with intact pets said that the cost of spay/neuter was the primary reason for surrendering their pet to a shelter.

Coercive sterilization laws and excessive animal-related fees result in increased shelter intakes and deaths anywhere they are tried. Fewer people will reclaim their pets due to high costs. Los Angeles has seen a steep rise in shelter intakes since implementing its own mandatory spay/neuter law. So has Memphis, Tennessee.

Coercive sterilization laws discourage dog owners from licensing their dogs to avoid compliance. After implementing its own spay/neuter law, LA County saw an 11% drop in licensing compliance while licensing in the rest of the state increased by 37%.

Mandatory sterilization is costly to enforce.

Revenues will drop, as owners will increasingly avoid licensing and forced surgery on their pets. There will be even LESS money for the needed enforcement.

Oppressive forced sterilization laws have resulted in increased incidence of RABIES in　some areas, as owners who avoid licensing may also fail to vaccinate for rabies. This creates a dire risk to human health. Fort Worth TX repealed their mandatory spay-neuter law due to increased cases of rabies exposure.

Dogs are being smuggled in by the thousands now, from Mexico and other countries, to meet the demand for pets.　Mandatory sterilization creates a black market for dogs and puppies. Black market pets bring rabies and parasites along with them.

Feral cats comprise the majority of shelter intakes, and sterilization mandates do not help feral cats. The only result is that Good Samaritans who care for feral cats are punished. Existing leash and confinement laws should be enforced. Sterilization does NOT prevent roaming.

There is no evidence to support the assertion that shelter intakes are caused by animals bred locally. Most puppies are sold outside of the local area where they are born.

Over 80% of owned dogs and 93% of owned cats are voluntarily sterilized in the US today, making coercive sterilization mandates unnecessary.

Mandated surgery disproportionately affects seniors and low-income families, making pet ownership financially burdensome for these groups.

And finally, forced sterilization of our pets raises direct animal welfare issues. Dogs neutered or spayed when immature have a greatly increased risk of health problems, most notably orthopedic disorders such as hip dysplasia and patellar luxation, but also life-threatening cancers including osteosarcoma, hemagiosarcoma, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, mast cell tumors, and lymphosarcoma. In addition, spay/neuter particularly when done at an early age predisposes dogs to hypothyroidism, vaccine reactions and infectious disease. Contrary to popular belief, recent studies show that sterilization increases the risk of aggressive behavior in dogs. Certainly, as a matter of animal welfare, the decision to sterilize our dogs should be left up to dog owners in consultation with their veterinarians.

In addition to the troublesome mandatory pediatric spay/neuter provisions, we note that you target a specific breed type for the imposition of certain restrictions and penalties. We OPPOSE breed-specific legislation. Breed-specific legislation is a dismal failure everywhere and is being repealed in many locales across the nation. It is not only unfair, it is ineffective as a problem-solving measure.

The CFODC is OPPOSED to measures which impose numeric pet limits on households. Such limit laws result in a greater number of animals relinquished to shelters, with fewer households allowed to provide shelter pets with much needed homes.

　

We urge you to REJECT any mandatory sterilization ordinance and instead focus on measures proven to work over the past thirty years….aggressive public education campaigns, trap/neuter and release programs for feral cats, and low-cost voluntary sterilization clinics.

Sincerely yours,

　

　

Geneva Coats, R.N.

Secretary, California Federation of Dog Clubs

　

cc: R DeLaRosa, D. Toro, S. Zamorra Jorrin, F. Navarro, L. Gonzales, D. Bennett, I. Suchil

Kern County Animal Control thanks CFODC

Truckee Adopts Law Prohibiting Sale of Cats and Dogs in Pet Stores

TRUCKEE, Calif. — The town of Truckee this week adopted an ordinance that prohibits the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores. Truckee Town Council approved the new law at its Feb. 9 meeting, as part of the consent calendar.

More here:

http://www.sierrasun.com/news/20583243-113/truckee-adopts-law-prohibiting-sale-of-cats-dogs

San Diego-Animal Control or Out of Control?

San Diego Humane Society and SPCA has law enforcement powers and huge war chest

In addition to having a warm and fuzzy public relations profile, The San Diego Humane Society and SPCA has a few items on its non-profit resume that comes as a surprise to most people.

The Humane Society and SPCA has a large, and growing, state-authorized law enforcement arm and more than $54 million sitting in cash reserves despite, or due to, its non-profit designation. The most recent publicly reported financial statements showed $65 million in income for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013.

As for enforcement, powers, don’t blink when you see the badges and uniform for Humane Society enforcement personnel could pass quite easily as municipal police officers. Aside from the official looking uniforms, officers carry pepper spray and stun guns. They also have official arrest powers pursuant to state law.

Make no mistake, the Humane Law Enforcement Department represents a significant revenue generating operation, and is considered a major, although sub rosa, or beneath the surface, part of the Humane Society business structure.

More here:

http://escondidograpevine.com/2015/09/10/demo-post-17/

San Marcos Breeder Regulations

The AKC Government Relations team has just become aware that the San Marcos City Council will consider a proposed ordinance which will define hobby breeders, limiting them to only three “breeding dogs, cats and/or rabbits.” It is unclear how a breeding dog, cat or rabbit would be identified and what would happen to resident breeders over that limit.
The measure also attempts to restrict the sales of pets from legal, licensed and regulated pet sellers. All breeders and pet owners should be concerned about government attempts to limit individuals’ choice of pets and attempts to limit the sale of purpose-bred puppies. 
The AKC urges responsible dog owners and breeders to attend the meeting and oppose this burdensome and ineffective ordinance.
San Marcos City Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Council Chambers, 1 Civic Center Drive, San Marcos, CA 92069
Hobby Breeder Definition is Vague and Problematic
The current draft defines a hobby breeder as “any small-scale breeder who owns three (3) or fewer breeding dogs, cats or rabbits, and who sells, provides or supplies the offspring for retail or wholesale.” This definition is unclear and serves to create problems for San Marcos residnets who own and breed dogs. The draft ordinance restricts residents to three “breeding dogs, cats or rabbits.” This term is unclear. Does this mean dams that have whelped a litter? Males that have sired a litter? Does this mean any intact dogs?  How are dogs too old or too young to be used for breeding counted? Ideal breeding ages can vary by breed. What happens if a person who breeds only rarely exceeds three breeding dogs? City code permits the issuance of kennel license for up to seven (7) dogs, so how are those individuals impacted?
Section 6.32.060 (a) exempts dogs, cats and/or rabbits sold directly from the premises upon which they are born and reared. While most small breeder’s animals are born and reared on their own premises, there are exceptions. Breeders occasionally receive a puppy in lieu of a stud fee or in the case of an emergency cesarean section, offspring might not be born on the owner’s property.
This ordinance was originally proposed to restrict sales of pets at retail pet shops. The measure restricts the actions of those who meet the criteria of a “retail pet store” which requires a business to conduct retail sales and be open to the public. Hobby breeders would not meet this criterion and further, breeders who sell at wholesale to a retail pet store are already regulated by federal law. This renders the hobby breeder definition and the exemption in Section 6.32.060 (a) superfluous and problematic.
As is acknowledged in the findings of this ordinance, federal law regulates those who sell at wholesale and even those who ship animals to new pet owners who have not seen the animals in person. California state law further regulates those who qualify as breeders under the Polanco-Lockyer Pet Breeder Warranty Act. California, under the Lockyer-Polanco-Farr Pet Protection Act, has one of the strongest pet consumer protection laws in the country. This level of additional regulation at the local level is unnecessary.
In our view, compliance with existing nuisance, sanitation, zoning and animal control and welfare laws is sufficient for small breeders. If they are not creating a nuisance for their neighbors and are obeying the law, there is no need for narrow definitions and government involvement.
Local responsible breeders are assets to their communities. These breeders make serious commitments to their animals by raising healthy, well cared-for dogs and by working to ensure that puppies are placed with responsible owners. They are in a unique position to support new pet owners and exemplify responsible animal ownership. Responsible dog breeders and owners are models for their communities and should not be penalized by being forced to comply with burdensome regulations.
Arbitrary Restrictions on Pet Sales Harm Pet Owners and the Community
The American Kennel Club believes that an important part of ensuring the success of a pet with a new owner is to ensure that it is an appropriate fit with the owner’s lifestyle. Treasured pets may be obtained from a variety of sources, including breeders, pet stores, rescues, and local shelters.
If the proposed ordinance restricting pet sales is adopted, families in San Marcos will lose an important source for choosing a pet that is the best fit for their lifestyle and circumstances.
Unfortunately, many communities lack sufficient local breeders to meet the demand for the specific pets desired by local residents. Those seeking a puppy that is a specific breed from a professional breeder subject to USDA or state animal welfare standards, or one that is covered by California consumer protection laws, will likely be forced to purchase a puppy elsewhere, or to obtain a pet of unknown origin and health history or status.
When consumers cannot acquire a pet that is an appropriate fit for their lifestyle, that animal is more likely to end up in the shelter system. A better solution is to ensure that consumers are educated, understand the demands of responsible ownership and have access to a variety of pets so that they can make educated choices.
The proposal to ban the sale of pets from known, regulated and inspected sources, and to allow only the sale/adoption of pets from unknown, unregulated and uninspected sources, does the exact opposite of its purported intent: It removes available consumer protections for new pet owners and potentially increases public health risks for the entire community. 
What You Can Do

• Attend the San Marcos City Council meeting on January 26, 2016 and ask the mayor and city council members to oppose this ordinance.
• Contact the members of the San Marcos City Council by email or phone prior to the meeting and ask them to oppose this ordinance.

AKC Resources:
AKC Position Statement: Canine Population Issues
Issue Analysis: The Value of Responsible Dog Breeders
AKC Position Statement: Breeding Restrictions
AKC Position Statement: Responsible Breeding Practices
Responsible Breeding Practices Issue Brief
San Marcos City Council
Mayor Jim Desmond
jdesmond@san-marcos.net
(760) 402-0448 Phone
(760) 744-9058 Fax
Vice-Mayor Rebecca Jones
rjones@san-marcos.net
(760) 744-1050 Phone
(760) 744-9058 Fax
Councilman Chris Orlando
corlando@san-marcos.net
(760) 744-1050 Ext. 3154
(760) 744-9058 Fax
Councilwoman Kristal Jabara
kjabara@san-marcos.net
(760) 744-1050 Phone
(760) 744-9058 Fax
Councilwoman Sharon Jenkins
sjenkins@san-marcos.net
(760) 744-1050 Phone
(760) 744-9058 Fax
For more information please contact the AKC Government Relations Department at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.

Santa Paula MSN

The American Kennel Club Government Relations Department has just become aware that the Santa Paula City Council will have a final vote on an ordinance Monday, December 21st that would establish mandatory spay/neuter of dogs and cats in the city unless the owner qualifies for an exemption. It also would require breeders to purchase a breeding permit and pass a test on “humane breeding practices” designed and administered by the Animal Services Coordinator. The measure does not state how much breeding experience the Animal Services Coordinator would be required to have.

As AKC and our local clubs were unaware of this proposal when it was first heard on November 16, the measure initially passed on a 5-0 vote. It is imperative that responsible owners and breeders attend this meeting and oppose these burdensome and ineffective proposals.

Santa Paula City Council

Date: Monday, December 21st, 2015

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: City Council Chambers at 970 Ventura Street, Santa Paula, CA 93060

The full draft of the ordinance can be seen online here. Provisions include:

Section 91.33: Mandatory Spaying and Neutering of Dogs and Cats.

Dogs and cats may only remain intact if one the following exemptions apply:

· Competition dogs used to show or breed that are of a breed recognized by and registered with approved breed registries such as the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club.

· The “guardian/custodian” is a member of an approved purebred dog breed club which enforces a code of ethics for dog breeding.

· The dog is used by a law enforcement agency for law enforcement purposes.

o The wording of this section fails to recognize that most search and rescue dogs are privately owned, trained and handled.

· The owner of the dog or cat provides a letter from a licensed veterinarian stating that the dog is unable to be spayed or neutered without a serious risk of bodily harm or death.

o Veterinarians may be reluctant to provide these exemptions.

Section 91.35 Dog and Cat Breeding – Permit Required – Fees.

· Any person, except for a person possessing a valid kennel license, who causes the breeding of a cat or dog, shall obtain a breeding permit from the Police Department and shall pay the fee for such permit. Breeding permits shall be valid for a term of one year from the date of issuance.

o Burdensome fees are not reasonable when there is no proof that responsible breeders are contributing to animal control problems in Santa Paula.

· Each permit shall authorize the whelping of no more than one litter per female dog or cat in any twelve month period and no more than one litter per domestic household in a twelve month period or the offering of a male dog or cat for stud service once in a twelve month period.

o There is no legitimate reason to limit responsible breeders in this manner. There are no health concerns related to allowing a male dog to be used for stud more than once a year and it is highly likely that a dog used for stud would be bred to a female in another jurisdiction, making the interest of animal control in the male’s jurisdiction tenuous at best.

· The person applying for the breeding permit shall demonstrate a basic understanding of humane breeding practices, administered in the form of a test, designed and administered by the Animal Services Coordinator. Should the applicant fail to pass the humane practices breeding test, he or she shall be denied the breeding permit and may not reapply for such a permit for a minimum of thirty days.

o What qualifications does the Animal Services Coordinator have to draft and administer such a test? Does the individual in this position have specific training in animal reproduction? Is this individual a veterinarian and member of the American College of Theriogenologists? The decision about whether to breed a dog should be made by the breeder in consultation with his or her veterinarian.

The American Kennel Club opposes the spay/neuter laws and arbitrary breeder permits as ineffective because they fail to address the underlying issue of irresponsible ownership. California state law already provides for the sterilization of animals adopted from shelters and mandates that the license fee for intact animals be at least double that of sterilized animals. The mandatory sterilization requirements proposed in this ordinance will merely punish those who are responsible owners and breeders, and the irresponsible owners who are not complying with current laws are likely to continue their behavior.

Many communities that have implemented mandatory spay/neuter (MSN) policies have found them to be ineffective and expensive. For example, after Dallas, Texas enacted MSN policies in 2008, it experienced a 22 percent increase in animal control costs and an overall decrease in licensing compliance. MSN laws often result in owners either ignore animal control laws entirely, or relinquishing their pets to the public shelter to be cared for at the taxpayers’ expense rather than pay for expensive sterilization surgery or breeder permits. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), some owners also opt to avoid rabies vaccinations and other general veterinary care in order to hide their lack of compliance with MSN laws.

AKC Resources:

AKC Position Statement: Canine Population Issues
AKC Position Statement: Spaying and Neutering
Mandatory Spay-Neuter Issue Brief
Issue Analysis: Why Mandatory Spay/Neuter Laws are Ineffective

What You Can Do:

· Attend the Santa Paula City Council Meeting on Monday, December 21st at 6:30 PM and speak in opposition to this burdensome and ineffective measure.

· If you are unable to attend this hearing, please contact the council members via phone call or email asking them to oppose this ordinance.

Santa Paula City Council

Council members can be emailed at info@ci.santa-paula.ca.us, or reached via phone at 805.525.4478 or fax 805.525.6278.

Mayor John Procter

Vice Mayor Martin F. Hernandez

Councilmember Jim Tovias
Councilmember Jenny Crosswhite
Councilmember Ginger Gherardi

For additional information, please contact the American Kennel Club Government Relations department at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org. 

 

 

Here is the letter sent from CFODC:

 

Santa Paula City Council

970 Ventura St.
Santa Paula, CA 93060
tel. 805-525-4478
fax. 805-525-6278

December 18, 2015

FOR INCLUSION IN OFFICIAL RECORD – City Council meeting of December 21, 2015

Dear Mayor Procter and City Council Members,

The California Federation of Dog Clubs is an association of thousands of dog owners across the State of California. Formed in 1990, the CFODC works tirelessly to promote animal welfare, educate the public regarding responsible animal ownership, and protect the rights of responsible animal owners. We administer a disaster relief fund, conduct breed ID workshops for shelter personnel, and provide educational information regarding responsible pet ownership. We also staff a toll-free assistance line for animal owners who need advice regarding pet training and behavioral issues. CFODC supports animal legislation with proven positive benefits to society.

We are concerned regarding the item on your agenda for Monday, December 21, 2015, which would require mandatory spay-neuter for the vast majority of pets in your city.

The CFODC is OPPOSED to the mandated sterilization of pets, regardless of exemptions. Some of the reasons for our opposition include:

• Spay-neuter mandates do not solve any problems. In fact, such laws create MORE problems. The ASPCA, the No Kill Advocacy Center, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Kennel Club and many other animal welfare groups are OPPOSED to mandatory sterilization because such laws are INEFFECTIVE in reducing shelter impounds and killings. In its position paper on mandatory spay-neuter, the ASPCA states:
  
  
  “The ASPCA is not aware of any credible evidence demonstrating a statistically significant enhancement in the reduction of shelter intake or euthanasia as a result of the implementation of a mandatory spay/neuter law.”
  
  
• Feral cats comprise the majority of shelter intakes, and sterilization mandates do not help feral cats. Instead, Good Samaritans who care for feral cats are punished.

• Fewer people will reclaim their pets from the shelter due to high costs and fees. Coercive sterilization laws and excessive animal-related fees result in increased shelter intakes and deaths everywhere they are tried.
• Mandatory sterilization is costly to enforce.
• Existing leash and confinement laws should be enforced. Sterilization does NOT prevent roaming.
• Revenues will drop, as owners will increasingly avoid licensing and forced surgery on their pets. There will be even LESS money for the needed enforcement.
• Forced sterilization laws have resulted in increased incidence of RABIES in some areas, as owners who avoid licensing may also fail to vaccinate for rabies. Fort Worth, Texas repealed their mandatory spay-neuter law due to a noted increase in rabies exposure cases. Rabies exposure is not just a serious risk to human life, but it is extremely expensive to deal with.
• Mandatory sterilization creates a black market for dogs and puppies. Dogs are being smuggled in by the thousands now, from Mexico and other countries, to meet the demand for pets. Black market pets bring rabies and parasites along with them.
• There is no evidence to believe that shelter intakes are caused by animals bred locally. Most puppies are sold outside of the area where they are born.
• Mandated surgery disproportionately punishes low-income families and seniors.

We urge you to REJECT any mandatory sterilization requirements and instead focus on animal control measures proven over the past thirty years to actually work….aggressive public education campaigns, trap/neuter and release programs for feral cats, and low-cost voluntary sterilization clinics.

Sincerely yours,

Geneva Coats, R.N.

Secretary, California Federation of Dog Clubs

CC: John Procter, Martin F. Hernandez, Jim Tovias, Jenny Crosswhite, Ginger Gherardi