PetFriendlyGuide Attachment to 7-25-13 SBACC Minutes

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are difficult to enforce; Ó create bureaucratic snarls between governmental agencies when an Ó control officers are required to enforce zoning laws; many of wh generated by unresearched local planning office opinions; are vulnerable to court challenge: Ó This model law does not include are used to harass neighbors; Ó either pet number limits or breed- specific restrictions. NAIA study ignore the ability of responsible owners to keep more Ó shows that it is far better to prose- than X-number of pets without causing a nuisance; cute actual nuisances and dan- gers than it is to penalize the uni- increase the number of pets entering shelters by prohibit- Ó versal of a nuisance or possibility ing families from adding a pet they can easily care for; and danger. Therefore NAIA supports nuisance laws and dangerous dog lead to a disrespect for the law and a willingness to Ó laws that clearly describe dog and violate it. owner behaviors that constitute nuisances and public dangers. We Number limits are often cited as a means to prevent have learned that pet number the hoarding of more pets than can be properly housed and limits and breed specific restric- cared for, but this problem is better solved by strict enforce- tions simply do not work. They are ment of animal control and nuisance laws that require prop- difficult to enforce and create er confinement and noise abatement, by health regulations animosity among responsible that govern odor and waste, and by cruelty laws that protect owners who become criminals as a animal welfare. result of poorly defined terms and arbitrary laws. Pet number limits are not only unenforceable and destructive, they were also ruled unconstitutional when challenged in Pennsylvania.5 Breed restrictions are also costly, impossible to enforce and likely to cause the deaths of many well-behaved, wel dogs that are beloved family pets. In addition, they give citize sense of security that they are protected because a breed or typ been banned. NAIA believes that well-constructed and strictly en dangerous dog laws that target irresponsible owners, illegal dog and aggressive dogs serve the community far better than specific restriction laws. Breeder licenses and restrictions Beginning in the early 1990Ès, activist groups convinced some municipalities that breeder licensing and other restrictions wou the number of pets entering shelters and raise funds needed to cope with overpopulation. They claimed that breeders were the source of s problems, and they used the media very effectively to promote an er sentiment and anti-breeder ordinances.6 [ 8 ] © National Animal Interest Alliance, March 2005