(December 13, 2005) -- Following a string of suggestions offered at tonight's City Council meeting by multiple animal advocates, Councilmembers unanimously agreed to defer final action on an ordinance permitting regulated dog breeding and (motion by Reyes Uranga) asked the LB Health Dept. to meet with interested parties and return in 45 days with a revised proposed dog breeding ordinance for Council consideration.

Although some speakers objected to abandoning LB's current ban on dog breeding (since LB's city run Animal Shelter kills unwanted animals) and urged strengthening LB's dog breeding ban, other speakers volunteered suggestions for improving an ordinance drafted by city staff and backed by the LB Kennel Club that would allow dog breeding of one litter per family per year with a paid city permit.

Several Councilmembers and Mayor O'Neill indicated they were impressed by the thoughtful, positive suggestions offered by members of the public. Those suggestions will now be heard in detail by city staff (not Councilmembers) who will decide which to incorporate in a revise ordinance that will be brought back to the full Council for final action.

Tonight's 9-0 Council vote signals that the Council will ultimately replace LB's current dog breeding ban with some type of new ordinance allowing regulated dog breeding. Supporters of the change said a new ordinance would be easier for Animal Control and LBPD to enforce...and noted the new law would carry misdemeanor penalties including fines and potential jail time. However some speakers questioned how Animal Control and LBPD, already overburdened, could enforce the new law.

As previously reported by LBReport.com, the LB Kennel Club's president has acknowledged that changing LB policy to allow regulated dog breeding would help the LB retain convention business from the American Kennel Club.

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