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Health & Fitness

Pet News and Views

A few new laws regarding pets have been adopted, not all of them in the best interests of pets and their guardians. Be a voice for the voiceless so the innocent don't continue to die.

This past week, pets in California were given quite a bit of press.

The good news, which thrilled those of us in the “animal rescue community,” came from Sacramento where Governor Jerry Brown proved his humane leadership by signing into law two significant animal protection reforms.  Both bills will afford more protection to innocent animals and harsher penalties to the people who engage animals in fighting, sell them on streets and on roadsides, and neglect and abuse them.  You can read the bills by clicking on this link: http://dist28.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC=%7B7EBFC133-9C59-4ADA-BF39-C54B7D78773D%7D&DE=%7B3D7B59A0-67E4-498B-9DB1-04D7BBFB8E03%7D

It’s not clear how, or if, the bills will pertain to people who offer to sell, or give away, pets on sites like Craigslist or in papers like the PennySaver.  Sadly, there are some unscrupulous people who continually breed their pets to sell the litters for a profit, not spaying/neutering them first, so the breeding goes on and on.  When those people realize they cannot take care of all the litters, they dump them in the pound where, depending on their age, they may be immediately put down, or other innocent pets will be put down to make room for the litters.  It is important for everyone who cares about the staggering numbers of pets being put down to report illicit breeding and animal abuse to the proper authorities.

The worst news came out of the not-so-humane-leadership of L.A.  County’s Board of Supervisors, who adopted the “Dangerous Dog Law” that was proposed by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control.  This means that animal control officers can declare a dog “vicious” simply by its appearance or its barking, and if the dog’s owner wants to dispute the decision, must do so within five days or the innocent dog could be put down.  Pet owners could previously appeal a complaint and it would be heard before a neutral judge.  The amendment was sought to save legal costs and make it easier to protect the public from “potentially” dangerous dogs.

This “law” says that a dog does not have to bite anyone, but if someone believes a dog is coming towards him in an aggressive manner, animal control can seize the dog.  So imagine if you have a neighbor who does not like you or your dog and complains about it barking.  Animal Control can come to your home and, if your dog is like most and wants to protect you and its territory, it will likely bark at the stranger in a uniform, who can then say the dog threatened him/her and your dog can be taken away and destroyed.

Some of you are probably thinking this law would apply only to Pitbulls, who already get a bad rap.  But think about the smaller mutts who may not like children, and if an unsupervised child might run up to that dog while it’s being walked and the dog snaps at the child, sure enough, that dog can be deemed dangerous.  You may have seen on the news recently the 5-pound Chihuahua that was minding his owner’s store when two robbers busted in.  That little guy went after the thugs, grabbed onto an ankle, and the two ran off.  Vicious?

You can read this new law at http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/07/26/la-county-adopts-vicious-dog-ordinance/ and if you feel it is unfair, click on the Petition site and voice your opinions at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/dangerous-dog-law-passes-in-los-angeles/.

With the staggering numbers of innocent pets being put down in our shelters because of how they might react when brought in to the shelter and show some fear, or just because kennel space is needed for the next influx, pets in Los Angeles just can’t get a break.

In yet another article, and in addition to the new laws, discussed above, some lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it mandatory to microchip pets.  One person who had been interviewed for the article claims that it should be the owner’s choice and making it mandatory is like telling parents they have to tattoo their children.  Another individual claims microchips can cause cancer or tumors and they can move around under the skin.  This person suggests tags and/or tattoos.

I say, in response to the first person, it’s seldom that a child will jump a fence or escape through a gate or door accidentally left open.  But if it were to happen, one would hope the child could tell someone his/her address.  This person should go into any shelter and look at how many pets were brought in as strays.  Perhaps a pet’s owner is not at home when the pet escapes, but if the pet is chipped and the
contact info is current, they can be quickly reunited.  A lost pet brought to the shelter with no identification might have been injured and is in the medical ward or hiding in the back of its kennel.  It’s owner might search day in and day out and overlook the pet, and after the required five-day holding period when it becomes available for adoption, if no one claims the pet it could be put down.

My response to the second individual is that secondhand smoke and a poor diet is more likely to cause cancer or tumors.  And I wonder if the person ever did research to see how many microchips migrated from the spot where they were injected.  I agree that a pet should be wearing a tag, but not everyone keeps a tag on 24/7.  If the pet somehow escapes from the home, someone may find it and take to a vet or the shelter to have it scanned for a chip.  Without one, the owner may not get their beloved pet returned.  There might be a reason that tattooing a pet is not commonplace.  I would imagine that it is a procedure that is more painful than a quick prick to insert a chip and I wonder how one even registers a tattoo.

What say you all about the latest news?  It is time and it is important that every compassionate person be a voice for the voiceless.  Our pets’ lives depend on you.

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