Koretz Calls to Increase Pet Limit From 3 to 5

Los Angeles pet owners are howling in approval over a proposed motion that would raise the number of cats and dogs allowed per resident from three of each animal to five.

Councilmen Bill Rosendahl (D-11) and Paul Koretz (D-5) submitted the motion to the L.A. City Attorney in June, and, on Sept. 16, a community meeting took place at the East Valley Animal Care Center to gauge public opinion. The response was an overwhelming "yes" from the nearly 140 people who attended. About 50 people spoke, and only two objected to raising the limit.

If passed, supporters say the motion will provide stray and abandoned animals with more homes and increase city revenue by collecting additional animal registration fees. Los Angeles Department of Animal Services estimates that these fees could generate approximately $800,000 annually for the city.

Opponents argue that increased pets will result in more dog barking, bites and dog packs. They say that it's unsanitary and that pet owners will not be able to afford veterinary care.

"I think it's a harebrained idea," said Don Schulz, a Van Nuys resident and cat owner, during the Sept. 16 community meeting. "There are irresponsible pet owners out there, and this sort of a change in the law just opens the doors for chaos." Shulz said he lives next door to two small dogs that consistently create a noise problem.

Brenda Barnette is the newly-hired General Manager of the L.A. Department of Animal Services and a dog breeder. "We do not mandate how many children a family can have, even though they may not be able to afford to give their children what they need and deserve," Barnette said in an e-mail.  "Is it right for us to arbitrarily judge what pet guardians may or may not be able to afford in the way of veterinary and other care for animals?"

Many meeting attendants argued that the limit should not simply be capped at five. They spoke of raising the cap to seven, 10 or even an unlimited number of pets. In comparison, the city of Santa Monica has no restrictions on the number of cats or dogs a resident can own. San Diego County has no cat limits and a dog limit of six per resident.

"If the animals are quiet, well cared for, well-fed, healthy, then they're not a problem," said Amanda St. John of Muttshack Animal Rescue, who owns three dogs and two cats.  "If my dogs are noisy and obnoxious or my cats are causing ruckus, then I'm in violation. There are already laws in place for that. There are already nuisance laws, there are already animal cruelty laws."

"If the person is a responsible pet owner, the number [of pets they can own] will not make much of a difference," said Bobby Dorafshar of New Leash on Life Animal Rescue and K9's Only in Tarzana. "If we can open our hearts and allow people to have more than three dogs, we would at least be able to pull another 45,000 animals out of the shelters."

The poor economy has caused a higher rate of animal abandonment and a 20%  increase in impounds, according to Rosendahl.

Animal rescuers have expressed frustration over the current limits. "Taking in more cats than the limit is probably the norm in rescue households," said Jacky DeHaviland, Vice President of Communications for Animal Alliance, and a cat rescuer.  "What is appreciated is when legal issues can help us to continue to do good. Three is an artificial limit. We're better than that."

Phyllis Daugherty, who has volunteered with L.A. County Department of Animal Care and Control for 15 years, is opposed to raising the limit. "I'm afraid there are going to be a lot more dogs shot by police officers, because they're going to have a call for domestic violence, drugs ... and if there are five aggressive breed dogs in that yard, the officers are probably going to have to shoot the dogs in order to help the people.  And what about emergency services and ambulances if they come and there are five dogs there? Will they be able to help people? It's unnecessary," Daugherty said.

Rosendahl and Koretz have urged the Board of Animal Services Commissioners to expedite their motion.

Another community meeting will be held to discuss this motion on Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the West Los Angeles Animal Care Center.