Many California residents make a living raising healthy, happy, puppies. Local law enforcement may be stepping on the wrong toes and shutting down these responsible and caring homes for man's best friend by creating a new ordinance that could lead to questionable animal cruelty charges in Los Angeles.
Our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers understand that raising dogs in California is a living for some, supplemental income for others, and a hobby for many. When the government gets carried away with ordinances and regulations that infringe upon your privacy, unwarranted criminal charges may result.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recently passed an ordinance to regulate the actions of animal breeders, according to The Beverly Hills Courier. While the ordinance is intended to target those who irresponsibly and inhumanely run puppy mills, over-restrictive law enforcement may prove to do more harm than good considering the popularity of dog breeders in our area.
"There are definitely some meaningful, impactful components to the ordinance that will improve the lives of dogs and make it less likely that they will suffer in large-scale breeding operations," said Elizabeth Oreck, national manager for Best Friends Animal Society,
Under the rules of the new ordinance, breeders will now be required to:
-Keep the puppies at the breeding facility until they are at least 8 weeks old.
-Keep the pregnant mothers separate from the other at least three days before they give birth.
-Provide new mothers and their puppies with proper nesting boxes.
-Wait until the dogs are at least 1 year old before breeding.
"In a county like L.A., where there is a very high shelter euthanasia rate, it is just as important to limit the production of animals as it is to ensure that dogs in breeding facilities are well cared for," said Oreck.
According to PR Web, Oreck understands that it may be impossible to put a complete ban on breeding dogs, but she hopes that eventually the regulations can be stiffened. She hopes to one day reduce euthanasia for the abundance of dogs that no longer hold their power as prestigious show dogs.
While the enforcement of this new ordinance is important in keeping irresponsible breeders under careful watch for the safety and regulation of these dogs, it may prove as a hassle for the many responsible breeders in the Los Angeles area.
If you are facing animal cruelty or dog fighting charges in L.A., contact Rodriguez, Lewis & Kahn for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.
