Post by trinitydobes on Aug 19, 2011 21:48:55 GMT -5
This bill is very dangerous because it sounds so very reasonable - who would not want to ban pet store sales?? I know I would - but the dangerous thing about this language is that they removed the exemption for Home hobby breeders! That means if I I lived in Glendale - it would be against the law to sell puppies from my home. Banning home sales is going to do nothing to eliminate puppy mills or stop the flow of illegal dogs accross the border. We need to always read the language of these bills to find out what Animal Rights have been able to tag onto the reasonable part of the legislation.!!!
This is from a representative of the Cat Fanciers Association but applies to the sale of puppies by hobby breeders of dogs as well. Please follow George's suggestions below.
From: George J. Eigenhauser, Jr.
Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 3:52 PM
To: CaRPOC@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CaRPOC] ACTION ALERT Glendale CA
The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc.
Legislative Alert - August 19, 2011
Appropriate forwarding is appreciated
CITY OF GLENDALE, CA. An Ordinance to Prohibit the Sale of All Dogs and
Cats by a Retail Pet Store or a Home Breeder
BRIEF SUMMATION: The ordinance, as originally proposed, provides that no pet store shall display, sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction,
give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of dogs or cats in the City of
Glendale. Pet store is defined in as a retail establishment open to the
public and engaging in the business of offering for sale and/or selling
animals at retail. Exceptions are made for sales of dogs and cats by animal
control or certain charitable, nonprofit humane society or rescue organizations.
CURRENT STATUS: The proposed ordinance was approved once by the City Council at its previous meeting and is now set for hearing before the Glendale City Council on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.
NOTE: THE HEARING TIME IS 6:00 P.M. IN THE GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER, 613 E. BROADWAY, 2ND FLOOR, GLENDALE, CA 91206.
WHAT THIS "PET SALES BAN" WILL MEAN TO YOU:
· This is a ban on the sale of cats and dogs by pet stores in the City of
Glendale.
· An exemption for local hobby breeders was removed at the last City
Council meeting.
· This is promoted as an effort to end "puppy mills", but the ordinance
does not address conditions under which cats or dogs are raised or kept.
It appears to be an Animal Rights Activist attempt to restrict sources of
pets only from shelters or rescue organizations.
ACTION TO TAKE: INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS:
· SEND EMAILS, LETTERS OR FAXES IMMEDIATELY TO the City Council and Mayor
· ATTEND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO SHOW YOUR OPPOSITION OR TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE.
Between now and the Tuesday hearing contact the Mayor and members of the Glendale City Council. Let them know you oppose the ordinance. If you live in Glendale visit your City Council member's office and the Mayor's office ASAP and let them know why you oppose this ordinance.
CONTACT INFORMATION for the Mayor and Glendale City Council members can be found at: www.ci.glendale.ca.us/contact_city_officials.asp
COUNCIL MEETINGS: The Glendale City Council has the ordinance on the agenda at their meeting on August, 23rd at 6:00 p.m. in the Glendale City Council Chamber, 613 E. Broadway, 2nd Floor, Glendale, CA 91206. If you have any questions about the time or place of the hearing you can view the agenda at:
www.ci.glendale.ca.us/agenda.asp?OrganizationID=4&Year=2011
· Numbers are vital. There should be a sea of people - whether you speak or not.
· Plan to arrive early to be assured of a seat and a speaking slot. Check
in with the city clerk to obtain a "speaker's slip" even if you do not wish
to speak. You may be able to "yield" your time to another speaker for our
side.
· Even if you can't think of anything specific to say you can simply
state: "I'm a voter in this City and I oppose this ordinance." If you live
within the City please say this. The City Council will take notice of
people who might be voting for or against them in the next election.
CALL OR WRITE: OPPOSE "THE PET SALES BAN"
· Those who live or work in Glendale should contact their representative
on the City Council. Let all your friends and fellow cat lovers know about
the hearing, and the need for opposition. Call ten friends and ask them to
call ten friends.
· Remember that kitten buyers are potential allies in the fight. Have you
ever placed a cat with someone in the City of Glendale? If so, give them a
call.
LETTER WRITING TIPS:
1) If you are faxing a letter for an organization use Organization or Club
letterhead.
2) Reference the title - " Re: OPPOSE Ordinance to Prohibit the Sale of All
Dogs and Cats by a Retail Pet Store"
3) Begin your letter/e-mail/fax by stating that your club (name) is OPPOSED
to the Pet Sales Ban ordinance.
4) If you have a Glendale address, note that you are a CONSTITUENT.
5) Put comments in your own words so letters do not appear to be "form".
Keep your letter brief and mention only a few points
6) Conclude your letter by again stating your opposition to the Bill; thank
the City Council members for his/her time. Ask for a NO vote on the Pet
Sales Ban.
SUGGESTED POINTS TO MAKE:
· Findings in the ordinance note existing state and federal laws
regulating dog and cat breeders, as well as pet stores that sell dogs and
cats. California law already regulates pet shop sales. Large breeders are
already licensed and inspected by the USDA. Cooperation with the federal
inspectors and good enforcement of existing laws is a better solution.
· Elimination of Pet Store sales in Glendale will not eliminate demand for
puppies and kittens. Families will simply look elsewhere. Some may turn to
unregulated Internet sales or black market pets. According to the Center
for Disease Control as many as 300,000 puppies a year are already being
imported into the United States. A joint Border Puppy Task Force in
California estimated that 10,000 puppies illegally entered San Diego County from Mexico in just one year. State you are tired of smugglers bringing in sick pets from Mexico. Smuggled pets may become the main source for pets with the Pet Sales Ban.
· Eliminating regulated sources of healthy pets will create a public
health risk. As families are forced to look elsewhere there will be an
increase in pets smuggled into the area. Imported pets create concerns
about zoonotic diseases such as rabies. It could lead to sick pets being
relinquishments at the shelter. The cost would be borne by local
government.
· To reduce shelter killing of pets we must address the problems that
drive people to give up their animals. Many owned pets enter shelters
because of the economy and personal issues like job loss, owner relocation, housing, landlord problems and other factors that have nothing to do with the pet. Many pets are homeless because of damage to property, poor breed choices, the pet's illness or old age or simply the "wrong" pet for this living situation. None of the real reasons for pet relinquishment are addressed by this ordinance.
· Responsible breeding means matching the right pet with the family's
needs and living situation. Responsible breeders know the characteristics
of their breed, including physical and personality traits. Breeders provide
good health care and socialization to the pets they sell. They place the
right pet with the right home, and they do it the first time, reducing risk
of an animal sent to a shelter. Responsible breeders provide ongoing advice to be sure the new pet adjusts well to his home or resident pets. Breeders are an optimum source for the ideal pet for many and should be encouraged not eliminated.
For more information:
George Eigenhauser, CFA Legislative Coordinator
mailto: geigenhauser@allmail.net
Joan Miller, CFA Legislative Information Liaison
mailto:JMillerArt%40aol.com
This is from a representative of the Cat Fanciers Association but applies to the sale of puppies by hobby breeders of dogs as well. Please follow George's suggestions below.
From: George J. Eigenhauser, Jr.
Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 3:52 PM
To: CaRPOC@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CaRPOC] ACTION ALERT Glendale CA
The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc.
Legislative Alert - August 19, 2011
Appropriate forwarding is appreciated
CITY OF GLENDALE, CA. An Ordinance to Prohibit the Sale of All Dogs and
Cats by a Retail Pet Store or a Home Breeder
BRIEF SUMMATION: The ordinance, as originally proposed, provides that no pet store shall display, sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction,
give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of dogs or cats in the City of
Glendale. Pet store is defined in as a retail establishment open to the
public and engaging in the business of offering for sale and/or selling
animals at retail. Exceptions are made for sales of dogs and cats by animal
control or certain charitable, nonprofit humane society or rescue organizations.
CURRENT STATUS: The proposed ordinance was approved once by the City Council at its previous meeting and is now set for hearing before the Glendale City Council on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.
NOTE: THE HEARING TIME IS 6:00 P.M. IN THE GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER, 613 E. BROADWAY, 2ND FLOOR, GLENDALE, CA 91206.
WHAT THIS "PET SALES BAN" WILL MEAN TO YOU:
· This is a ban on the sale of cats and dogs by pet stores in the City of
Glendale.
· An exemption for local hobby breeders was removed at the last City
Council meeting.
· This is promoted as an effort to end "puppy mills", but the ordinance
does not address conditions under which cats or dogs are raised or kept.
It appears to be an Animal Rights Activist attempt to restrict sources of
pets only from shelters or rescue organizations.
ACTION TO TAKE: INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS:
· SEND EMAILS, LETTERS OR FAXES IMMEDIATELY TO the City Council and Mayor
· ATTEND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO SHOW YOUR OPPOSITION OR TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE.
Between now and the Tuesday hearing contact the Mayor and members of the Glendale City Council. Let them know you oppose the ordinance. If you live in Glendale visit your City Council member's office and the Mayor's office ASAP and let them know why you oppose this ordinance.
CONTACT INFORMATION for the Mayor and Glendale City Council members can be found at: www.ci.glendale.ca.us/contact_city_officials.asp
COUNCIL MEETINGS: The Glendale City Council has the ordinance on the agenda at their meeting on August, 23rd at 6:00 p.m. in the Glendale City Council Chamber, 613 E. Broadway, 2nd Floor, Glendale, CA 91206. If you have any questions about the time or place of the hearing you can view the agenda at:
www.ci.glendale.ca.us/agenda.asp?OrganizationID=4&Year=2011
· Numbers are vital. There should be a sea of people - whether you speak or not.
· Plan to arrive early to be assured of a seat and a speaking slot. Check
in with the city clerk to obtain a "speaker's slip" even if you do not wish
to speak. You may be able to "yield" your time to another speaker for our
side.
· Even if you can't think of anything specific to say you can simply
state: "I'm a voter in this City and I oppose this ordinance." If you live
within the City please say this. The City Council will take notice of
people who might be voting for or against them in the next election.
CALL OR WRITE: OPPOSE "THE PET SALES BAN"
· Those who live or work in Glendale should contact their representative
on the City Council. Let all your friends and fellow cat lovers know about
the hearing, and the need for opposition. Call ten friends and ask them to
call ten friends.
· Remember that kitten buyers are potential allies in the fight. Have you
ever placed a cat with someone in the City of Glendale? If so, give them a
call.
LETTER WRITING TIPS:
1) If you are faxing a letter for an organization use Organization or Club
letterhead.
2) Reference the title - " Re: OPPOSE Ordinance to Prohibit the Sale of All
Dogs and Cats by a Retail Pet Store"
3) Begin your letter/e-mail/fax by stating that your club (name) is OPPOSED
to the Pet Sales Ban ordinance.
4) If you have a Glendale address, note that you are a CONSTITUENT.
5) Put comments in your own words so letters do not appear to be "form".
Keep your letter brief and mention only a few points
6) Conclude your letter by again stating your opposition to the Bill; thank
the City Council members for his/her time. Ask for a NO vote on the Pet
Sales Ban.
SUGGESTED POINTS TO MAKE:
· Findings in the ordinance note existing state and federal laws
regulating dog and cat breeders, as well as pet stores that sell dogs and
cats. California law already regulates pet shop sales. Large breeders are
already licensed and inspected by the USDA. Cooperation with the federal
inspectors and good enforcement of existing laws is a better solution.
· Elimination of Pet Store sales in Glendale will not eliminate demand for
puppies and kittens. Families will simply look elsewhere. Some may turn to
unregulated Internet sales or black market pets. According to the Center
for Disease Control as many as 300,000 puppies a year are already being
imported into the United States. A joint Border Puppy Task Force in
California estimated that 10,000 puppies illegally entered San Diego County from Mexico in just one year. State you are tired of smugglers bringing in sick pets from Mexico. Smuggled pets may become the main source for pets with the Pet Sales Ban.
· Eliminating regulated sources of healthy pets will create a public
health risk. As families are forced to look elsewhere there will be an
increase in pets smuggled into the area. Imported pets create concerns
about zoonotic diseases such as rabies. It could lead to sick pets being
relinquishments at the shelter. The cost would be borne by local
government.
· To reduce shelter killing of pets we must address the problems that
drive people to give up their animals. Many owned pets enter shelters
because of the economy and personal issues like job loss, owner relocation, housing, landlord problems and other factors that have nothing to do with the pet. Many pets are homeless because of damage to property, poor breed choices, the pet's illness or old age or simply the "wrong" pet for this living situation. None of the real reasons for pet relinquishment are addressed by this ordinance.
· Responsible breeding means matching the right pet with the family's
needs and living situation. Responsible breeders know the characteristics
of their breed, including physical and personality traits. Breeders provide
good health care and socialization to the pets they sell. They place the
right pet with the right home, and they do it the first time, reducing risk
of an animal sent to a shelter. Responsible breeders provide ongoing advice to be sure the new pet adjusts well to his home or resident pets. Breeders are an optimum source for the ideal pet for many and should be encouraged not eliminated.
For more information:
George Eigenhauser, CFA Legislative Coordinator
mailto: geigenhauser@allmail.net
Joan Miller, CFA Legislative Information Liaison
mailto:JMillerArt%40aol.com
