CFA Legislative ALERT
Last Updated: 7/25/2006
Riverside County Ordinance 630.10, Riverside County, CA
SUMMARY
Dr. Allan Drusys, the Riverside County Chief of Veterinary Services has
released draft documents for two proposed ordinances. These will be
posted on the County website soon with more information.
Here is a summary.
Ordinance 1 - establishes MANDATORY MICROCHIP identification for all
dogs/cats over 4 months. Any change of ownership or address/telephone
number requires notification of the Department and the national microchip
"registry". Any sale/transfer of a puppy/kitten requires notification of
the Department of the new owner or "custodian's" name and address and
microchip number within 10 days. Any offer for sale, trade or adoption
requires a microchip number. Fees and fines are not listed but are to
cover enforcement.
Ordinance 2 - MANDATORY SPAY/NEUTER of all dogs and cats over 4 months.
Exemption allows an unaltered dog or cat license for a "competition dog
or cat". This means a breed recognized by and registered with Department approved
registries AND AT LEAST ONE of the requirements.
A. Dog or cat show competition in at least one show within the last 365
days
B. Earned a title from one of the approved registries.
C. Owner is a
member of a "breed club, approved by the Department, which maintains and
enforces a code of ethics for animal breeding that includes restrictions
from breeding individuals with genetic defects and life threatening
health problems that commonly threaten the breed". (Not all pedigreed
breeds have a breed club.)
or working dogs/cats "trained and used for herding" (are they joking?) or
dogs/cats designated as "breeding stock" by an agency or organization
approved by the Department.
or dogs/cats boarded in a licensed kennel, which professionally trains
animals for use and resale.
Unaltered dog license; unaltered cat license requirements:
Over 4 months - must obtain an annual unaltered license (Fee amount is
not included) if one qualifies. BUT the Department may deny or revoke an
unaltered license for dogs for various reasons including the Department
receiving 2 complaints the dog licensee has allowed his dog to run loose
or escape.
Transfer, sale, breeding of an unaltered dog/cat:
Any offer for sale or transfer must include a valid dog license number
and dog/cat microchip number.
The owner of an unaltered cat over 4 months who offers for sale or
transfer a cat, "which is not a competition dog" (what??) or "a cat used
by a law enforcement agency for law enforcement purposes" (LOL - they
must be kidding - Cats do not DO law enforcement work!!), "or a qualified
service or assistance animal" must notify the Department of the name and
address of the transferee and microchip number..
Within 30 days of birth of a litter - advise the Department in writing of
the number of live puppies/kittens. When a puppy/kitten is sold under 4
months advise the Department of the name, address, telephone number of
the new owner and microchip number.
Penalties - violation for ANY provision. First ($250); second, including
failing to correct the 1st within 30 days, means a misdemeanor punishable
by IMPRISONMENT in the county jail for six months or by a fine not to
exceed $1000 or both. Each subsequent violation within one year is an
addition misdemeanor.
If an unaltered dog/cat is impounded (for any reason, no exceptions for
disasters, fire, etc.) the dog/cat must be spayed/neutered to reclaim.
If an owner/custodian does not pay the lien for costs, daily board,
diagnostic, therapeutic expenses within 14 days the dog/cat is deemed
"abandoned" to the Department.
Riverside County had become a pet and breeder-unfriendly community.
Department of Animal Services Director, Robert Miller, and Chief
Veterinarian Alan Drusys did not hear one word of the opposition at the
public forum held a few weeks ago.
These draft ordinances are extremely punitive and there is more when you
read the details. They will deter any pedigreed cat/purebred dog
breeders from choosing to live in this county. Animal Services will make
it difficult for the public to find any home-raised pets locally. Most
breed rescuers are also breeders - the County will lose these volunteers.
First time impoundment (even if an animal was let out by mistake by a
child or pet sitter) could mean a death sentence for an unaltered pet
over 4 months of age if the owner cannot come up with money in 14 days to
pay all fines, fees and Department costs plus mandated sterilization and
microchiping. And a valuable breeding animal would be sterilized with no
chance to appeal.
Needless to say - we must go to battle.............
ACTION TO TAKE:
- Start by writing to the Board of Supervisors immediately - tell them to
insist that the Department of Animal Services drop these ordinances.
They are are punitive, ineptly drafted and will cause extreme
divisiveness in the County.
- Email Director Robert Miller or call Email Dr. Drusys. Insist they
drop these ordinances. Ask them to relook at the suggested positive
community collaboration outlined in the Riverside Task Force
recommendations following the HSUS shelter audit, which outlined a working
plan with no legislative component. Ask them to correct shelter
operation problems, improve customer service, establish community
outreach and volunteer programs.
- Write letters to the newspapers.
SUGGESTED POINTS:
- Microchip identification should be a voluntary choice. This is good
technology to help recover lost animals, but should not be mandated to
monitor pet owners' names, addresses and telephone numbers for
enforcement of even more future anti-pet ownership laws. For many the low
tech collar/tag is inexpensive and entirely adequate. There is no
exemption for feral cats in trap/neuter/return (TNR) colonies.
- Mandatory spay/neuter with criminal punishment will mean serious
unintended consequences without reducing the numbers of homeless animals
who are relinquished to the shelter for a variety of behavioral and human
personal reasons. These ordinances could lead to animal abandonment.
- Pediatric sterilization (younger than 4 months) presents some health
problems identified in some dog breeds. Those with pedigreed cats should
determine the optimum age for sterilization with their veterinarian's
advice. Though reported safe for healthy random bred cats, no studies
have been published to determine any adverse affects in pedigreed breeds
of cats.
- Unaltered licensing is a form of breeder taxation - and the fee per
animal, per year is unknown. Based on other communities administrative
and enforcement costs are very high for any breeder permit schemes.
- Animal Services has no knowledge of proper animal husbandry or breeding
program strategy. All living beings, including humans can have unknown
"genetic defects" and breeders rely on various appropriate methods to
reduce instances of disorders without destroying breed genepools. Codes
of Ethics reflect goals of breeders. They are guidelines rather than
rules intended as criteria for Animal Services licensing.
- Most litters of random-bred cats are accidental not planned. An owner
is one who provides care for an animal for 30 days - these ordinances
will mean the unowned/freeroaming/feral cats will be ignored rather than
accepted, sterilized and cared for. The cost of microcipping and fines
for not having a license may lead to abandonment of cats or
relinquishment to the shelter where kittens/cats may be killed.
- These proposals would be a bureaucratic nightmare for Animal Services
when resources should be devoted to positive community collaboration and
effective programs. For the County to maintain data including thousands
of microchip numbers, every litter born, every transfer or sale and the
names, addresses and phone numbers of everyone owning a dog or cat is a
waste of resources that could be better used to help animals.
- This County should not fine or put breeders in jail for failing to take
their cats or dogs to a show in the past year causing an unaltered
license violation. The County should not fine or put a person in jail
who takes in a pregnant stray cat because they have not sterilized the
cat and cannot qualify for an unaltered cat license; or they have not
provided a written declaration of her litter or do not have the funds to
microchip her kittens prior to finding homes. Helping unowned cats
should be encouraged not criminalized.
Riverside Animal Services will destroy any hope of community collaboration
to build volunteers, provide education, breed rescue and shelter support
from breeders. Positive cooperative approaches have proven to be
successful in other areas.
- Contact friends and veterinarians in the County and in areas near
Riverside who may be able to help.
- Keep checking the Animal Services website for announcements of any public
forums and be prepared to help defeat these ordinances. We are going to need public support.
Joan Miller
CFA Legislative Coordinator
JMillerArt@aol.com
Robert Miller
Director of Animal Services
robertmiller@co.riverside.ca.us
951-358-7387 or 888-636-7387
Alan Drusys, DVM
Chief, Veterinary Services
adrusys@co.riverside.ca.us
To find your representative on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors please go to http://www.tlma.co.riverside.ca.us/gis/gisbasicquery2.html
Supervisor Bob Buster - DISTRICT 1 (Chairman)
County Administrative Center
4080 Lemon Street, 5th Floor
Riverside, California 92501
(951) 955-1010
district1@rcbos.org
Lake Elsinore Office
2499 East Lakeshore Drive
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
(951) 245-3330
Supervisor John F. Tavaglione – DISTRICT 2 (Vice-Chairman)
County Administrative Center
4080 Lemon Street - 5th Floor
Riverside, California 92501
(951) 955-1020
district2@rcbos.org
Supervisor Jeff Stone – DISTRICT 3
County Administrative Center
4080 Lemon Street - 5th Floor
Riverside, California 92501
(951) 955-1030
district3@rcbos.org
Supervisor Roy Wilson – DISTRICT 4
County Administrative Center
4080 Lemon Street - 5th Floor
Riverside, California 92501
(951) 955-1040
District Office
73-710 Fred Waring Drive, Suite 222
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 863-8211
district4@rcbos.org
Supervisor Marion Ashley – DISTRICT 5
County Administrative Center
4080 Lemon Street - 5th Floor
Riverside, California 92501
(951) 955-1050
district5@rcbos.org
District Office:
14375 Nason St. Suite 207
Moreno Valley, CA 92555
Desert/Pass Office:
50290 Main St.
Cabazon, CA 92230
To correspond with the CFA Legislative Committee, please send email to legislation@cfa.org
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