American Kennel Club Tries (Again) To Use Lure Of Its Annual Dog Show To Try To Sway Lawmakers; Amnesia File: In 2006, LB Officials Changed LB Law To Enable Previously Banned Dog Breeding To Appease AKC; Group Then Threatened To Leave CA Over Then-Pending Mandatory Statewide Spay/Neuter Law (That Later Failed Passage); AKC Dog Show Ultimately Left Long Beach And CA Anyway

LBREPORT.com opens our Amnesia File, which shows this isn't the first time the national group has used the lure of its national dog show to try and sway Long Beach City Councilmembers on a policy matter. In 2006, it succeeded.

At the time, Long Beach was about to once again become the location for the annual AKC/Eukanuba national dog show. A number of voices in LB's civic establishment said the return of the nationally televised event would bring Long Beach attention. Others said it would bring City Hall convention-related revenue (hotel room taxes, food and other sales.) Using documents obtained under the CA Public Records Act, LBREPORT.com learned and reported that with quiet intervention by then-Mayor Beverly O'Neill, the City Council voted in 2006 to change (and reverse) LB's long standing ban on dog breeding and instead voted to allow it and regulate it...and the AKC scheduled its annual event for Long Beach in 2006 and 2007.

A few months later, AKC told then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that it would take its annual dog show out of California if state lawmakers enacted a then-pending spay/neuter bill. The measure cleared the Assembly with the "yes" votes of some LB lawmakers, angering some in LB's civic establishment [including the editorial page of the PressTelegram.] The measure ultimately hit a roadblock in a state Senate committee and failed passage.

As the final how do you do, the AKC ultimately left Long Beach and California on other grounds and hasn't returned. [LBREPORT.com includes our editorial reaction, below.] Our Amnesia File coverage follows below and speaks for itself.

[Scroll down for further below.]

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[Amnesia File / LBREPORT.com archival coverage] (January 5, 2006) -- Documents obtained by LBReport.com under state Freedom of Information law (CA Public Records Act) show that the Chairman of the Board of the NY-based American Kennel Club wrote LB Mayor Beverly O'Neill on three occasions between June 2004 and March 2005, urging Long Beach to reverse its law banning dog breeding and suggesting the action might help make the city the permanent home of the group's national shows beyond 2006 and 2007.

"We are planning to return to Long Beach in 2006 and 2007 and would seriously consider Long Beach as the permanent site for our show if you could reexamine the breeding ban and develop a mutually satisfactory alternative...Our experience tells us that bans on breeding are not necessary if there are strong guidelines in place to ensure responsible practices," AKC Board Chair Ronald Menaker told LB's Mayor in a March 2005 letter, paralleling two similar letters in June and August 2004.

In a July 2004 reply, Mayor O'Neill assured the AKC Board chair that "[w]e are addressing the concerns you have expressed" although the issue would not reach the City Council -- the city's policy setting body -- until over a year later.

None of the correspondence released to date (while City Hall searches for possible additional responsive documents) indicates reducing the number of animals killed (euthanized) by LB's City Hall-run Animal Control facility was a stated factor in the proposed policy reversal, a rationale subsequently offered by city staff when the issue first surfaced in late 2005.

In a November 1 City Council agenda item placed on the "consent calendar" where it would not be publicly discussed unless specifically requested by a member of the Council or public, LB's Health Dept. (which operates LB Animal Control) sought Council approval to draft an ordinance permitting dog breeding with a city license and subject to restrictions. Ron Arias, Director of City Hall's Dept. of Health and Human Services, wrote in an accompanying memo that "over the past three years, City of Long Beach residents who wish to breed their dogs, as well as national organizations that promote the continuation of dog breeds through responsible breeding , have approached the City, requesting a reconsideration of the City’s total ban on dog breeding...The Department of Health and Human Services is very aware of the pet overpopulation problem in our society and recognizes that thousands of animals are euthanized each year in animal shelters across the country. However, with proper restrictions that allow for limited, controlled breeding of dogs by permit, it is unlikely that the amendments to L.B.M.C. Sections 6.16.080 and 6.16.190 will add to the dog overpopulation problem in Long Beach. As responsible dog owners are permitted to breed their animals under stringent requirements, it is hoped that fewer unwanted dogs will be dropped off at the shelter."

City staff's memo didn't indicate any relationship between the proposal to change the city's ordinance and the possibility that LB might be the site of possible future AKC events beyond 2006 and 2007 if the City reversed its dog breeding ban. However, the president of the Long Beach Kennel Club candidly confirmed as much to LBReport.com in December and called LB's new ordinance a win-win that would simultaneously create a newly enforceable law and bring economic benefits to the city.

On November 22, a draft dog breeding ordinance was agendized for the first of two Council votes required to enact it. Despite opposition testimony by some members of Friends of LB Animals, the Council voted (motion by Vice Mayor/Councilwoman Jackie Kell) to approve the policy change, setting the stage for a second, final Council vote.

Councilman Frank Colonna sought to insert verbiage to bring the ordinance back for Council review in six months (which the Council could do so even without the verbiage) but the issue continued to roil. On December 10, Justin Rudd (who led efforts to create LB's beachfront dog zone) convened a "town hall" style beachfront meeting at which several grassroots animal advocates (and 3d district Council candidate Norm Ryan) indicated they opposed the policy change entirely.

When the ordinance returned to the Council on December 13, local animal advocates showed up in larger numbers to oppose reversing city policy. In response to pointed opposition testimony from one public speaker, Mayor O'Neill volunteered that the policy change had received considerable attention [a remark that prompted LBReport.com to make its Public Records Act request...and the first materials released appear to have come from the Mayor's office.]

The Council deferred a second, final vote on the ordinance until city staff gathered public input on possible additional items that might be included in the ordinance. On December 29, city staff held a public meeting at which a "facilitator" from the non-profit NCCJ invited suggestions on including possible additional items in the new ordinance but repeatedly sought to prevent public comments on the new ordinance itself.

At the meeting, Members of Friends of LB Animals, as well as a representative of the L.A. based Actors and Others for Animals, continued to voice opposition to reversing LB city policy to allow dog breeding while members of the LB Kennel Club supported reversing current city policy. City staff and management were present but no LB elected officials were visible. The NCCJ "facilitator" indicated the public's suggestions would be conveyed to City Hall for possible staff recommendation to the Council. At some point, the issue is expected to return to the City Council for further action.

LBReport.com posts extended portions of the AKC correspondence with Mayor O'Neill's office below...

June 23, 2004 letter from American Kennel Club Chairman of the Board Ronald Menaker to LB Mayor Beverly O'Neill

The American Kennel Club is planning for the 2006 and 2007 AKC Eukanuba National Championship shows. Our experience in Long Beach in 2003 was so favorable that we are again looking for a possible return in those years.

I believe that I may have discussed with you that one difficulty we have with positioning our show in Long Beach is the existence of the ordinance that prohibits the breeding of dogs within the city limits.

AKC prides itself on its responsible and successful breeders. They form the foundation of our sport. We build into our show a significant tribute to our breeders and spotlight their importance.

When we held our show in Long Beach in 2003, we did receive criticism from some of our people about holding it in a city that was so "unfriendly to dogs." We do not believe that Long Beach is unfriendly to dogs based on the widespread ownership of dogs in your community and your recent building of a new animal shelter.

Before we move too much further on our plans for 2006 and 2007, I am requesting that you and your council consider a re-examination of the breeder-restriction ordinance. If you would favor such a re-examination, I believe that we could move ahead with our planning.

I know that legislation on every level of government can move slowly. We would not expect any definitive action on a re-examination of the ordinance before we made a decision on 2006 and 2007, but a favorable action on it would have considerable bearing on whether we might decide to make Long Beach the permanent home of the AKC Eukanuba National Championship show.

I look forward to hearing form you soon.

Kindest regards,

s/ [RM]

July 8 Reply from LB Mayor O'Neill to AKC Board Chair Menaker

We are delighted to learn that the American Kennel Club is planning to return to Long Beach for the 2006 and 2007 AKC Eukanuba National Championship shows. I personally, am thrilled as I am such a devoted canine lover and enjoy watching these championship events.

We are addressing the concerns you have expressed and I believe it important that you know that our City Attorney is investigating the City Ordinance that prohibits the breeding of dogs within the city limits. I will keep you apprised of our progress.

We are a city that is dog friendly and our newly constructed P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village serves as a national model for future animal shelters. In addition, our citizenry has set aside a portion of beach property for our four legged friends to enjoy the freedom of our beaches and surf.

We look forward to welcoming you back to Long Beach.

Sincerely,

s/ Beverly O'Neill
Mayor

August 24, 2004 Letter from AKC Board Chair Menaker to Mayor O'Neill

I am writing to you to express the American Kennel Club's support in rescinding or substantially changing Section 6.16.190 of the Long Beach municipal code. This code section has been brought to our attention by many participants attending our National Championships this pasty December.

As you are aware, the American Kennel Club intends to find a permanent home for our National Championships, and we are currently committed to be in Long Beach in both December 2006 and 2007. If we receive the television ratings in December 2006 that we anticipate, and if changes were made to the current dog breeding law as we have discussed, then it would be our intention to keep the National Championships at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, assuming they can accommodate us.

Many among our constituency are very concerned about our hosting this prestigious event in a city that does not allow dog breeding within its limits. We are hopeful that the City Council will reconsider this code section and that we can continue our relationship with your wonderful city.

I look forward to receiving information regarding this resolution after the City Council has had an opportunity to review all of these concerns.

Kindest regards,

s/ RM

March 21, 2005 Letter from AKC Board Chair Menaker to Mayor O'Neill

...We believe there are excellent alternatives to an outright ban on breeding and after I received your letter [of July 8, 2004], our canine Legislation department began working with Assistant City Attorney, Michael Mais, toward that end. We sent him model language and ordinances that have been successful in other areas of the country and recommended that Long Beach establish a task force that includes local dog fanciers to begin developing an appropriate bill for the city.

Late in 2004, Mr. Mais told us he thought it was necessary for you to request that the Health Department amend the ordinance and said he would speak to all parties in this regard [but contends movement thereafter reached a standstill].

The AKC Eukanuba National Championship show in Long Beach 2003 was extremely successful and we were sincerely appreciative of your warm welcoming hospitality. The economic benefit and media exposure to the City of Long Beach was substantial. In fact, Steve Goodling, the president of the Greater Long Beach Visitors and Convention Center [sic, means Convention & Visitors Bureau] was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying "the three-day event will have poured $4.6 million into the city." In addition, our outreach to news media reached over 110 million people nationwide and the televised broadcast on Animal Planet was seen by millions of viewers.

We are planning to return to Long Beach in 2006 and 2007 and would seriously consider Long Beach as the permanent site for our show if you could reexamine the breeding ban and develop a mutually satisfactory alternative.

The AKC is a strong proponent of responsible breeding. We do much to promote and ensure this end and to educate the general public on how to identify, locate and buy from responsible breeders. In addition, we maintain a department that inspects breeders, brokers and pet stores to enforce our rigorous care and conditions policy as well as examine record keeping and identification practices. Those who do not meet our standards may not register with the AKC until or unless they correct their deficiencies. Those convicted of neglect or cruelty to dogs are suspending from all AKC privileges. Our experience tells us that bans on breeding are not necessary if there are strong guidelines in place to ensure responsible practices.

I look forward to hearing form you on how we can get our efforts back on track. We would like to move ahead with planning our shows and make your beautiful city our permanent home.

Kindest regards.

s/ RM...

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(June 7, 2007) -- The morning after the late night "yes" votes by LB area lawmakers Assemblymembers Betty Karnette (D., LB) and Laura Richardson (D., Carson-LB) that permitted passage of a bill requiring spaying/neutering of dogs/cats (AB 1634), there's measurable fallout in LB...which finds itself at ground zero on the issue.

LB Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Steve Goodling was uncharacteristically downbeat, and Pine Ave. businessman John Morris (Smooth's Sports Grille) was incensed, that the two LB lawmakers who'd abstained on the bill earlier in the day (leaving it with only 37 of 41 votes needed to pass) ultimately provided two of the "yes" votes that passed the bill when it came up for a final tally at about 10:30 last night (June 6).

Meanwhile, the LB coordinator for the statewide coalition of groups supporting the "California Healthy Pets Act" (AB 1634) by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (D, Van Nuys) said, "We commend Assemblymembers Richardson and Karnette for their votes, and for all the legislators who voted for the bill...They're held in very high regard by our supporters."

The measure, which now heads to the State Senate, would require (with some exceptions) the spaying/neutering of all cats and dogs over four months. The measure is supported by Friends of Long Beach Animals and a statewide coalition including multiple spay-neuter advocacy groups.

Arrayed against the bill is the national HQ of the American Kennel Club (AKC) various breeder constituency groups...and the AKC has previously indicated in an advocacy letter (salient text below) that CA -- and LB -- could lose annual dog show revenue including the internationally televised AKC/Eukanuba Championship at the LB Convention Center if the bill becomes law.

LBCVB CEO Goodling noted that the dog show provides LB with a major event coupled with national live TV coverage on the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. He said that AKC's NYC headquarters conveyed to him this morning (June 6) that members of the group were very displeased with the Assembly action..and a number favored removing AKC's annual dog show from CA. In an uncharacteristically downbeat tone, Mr. Goodling said, "This will have a major impact on Long Beach." "Will?" we asked, questioning his choice of verb. "Will," Mr. Goodling reiterated.

Downtown businessman Morris said he was stunned that two local lawmakers had switched their "abstain" position to "yes" instead of "doing what is best for the local community."

Both men indicated they believed an AKC meeting is scheduled in the coming days where consequences might be felt.

When LBReport.com sought to confirm this with AKC, our call to an executive was shunted to Assistant Communications VP Daisy Okas who said AKC's regularly scheduled quarterly meeting of its constituent-member groups is coming up in Las Vegas and the legislative developments aren't on its agenda although they could be discussed. Pressed as to whether any action could be taken at that meeting in response to Assembly developments, the spokesperson offered nothing further, declined to make an AKC executive available to LBReport.com...and sent us the following email:

Our constituency is alarmed about this bill and no doubt it will be a topic of conversation at our Delegate meeting on Monday in Las Vegas. There is always a chance that they could elect to hold a straw vote to break our contract and not hold the show, but as I mentioned it is not a scheduled agenda topic.

Of particular concern is the fact that it appears Long Beach Assembly members Karnette and Richardson voted to pass the measure yesterday. According to LB Convention and Visitors Bureau $21.7 million was generated for the local economy by the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship and surrounding dog shows.

We are receiving a lot of feedback from our constituency across the country – they are very concerned with this bill and incredulous that the city of Long Beach is not supporting us.

We can not make any definitive statements about pulling the show out of Long Beach at this time. We are considering all options...

...As reported in April by LBReport.com, AKC's Chairman of the Board, Ronald Menaker, sent a letter from the group's NYC HQ to CA Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, contending the bill would be "damaging...to responsible dog owners in California and also the revenue that California stands to lose if dog shows are forced out of the state as they would be under the provisions of AB 1634."

The AKC letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger attached a separate letter from AKC Board Chair Menaker to Assemblyman Mike Eng (D., Monterey Park) who chairs the Assembly Business & Professions Committee scheduled to give the bill its first Committee hearing. The letter states in pertinent part:

The American Kennel Club (AKC) is extremely concerned about Assembly Bill 1634, which would require dogs and cats over four months of age be spayed or neutered unless an intact animal permit is obtained by the owner. This legislation would be a death knell for dog shows and indeed purebred dogs in state of California. As Chairman of the Board of the American Kennel Club and on behalf of the 482 AKC-affiliated dog clubs in California and their thousands of members, and the 5,000 clubs nationwide, I urge you to oppose this bill.

In 2006, and previously in 2003, we held our internationally televised AKC/Eukanuba Championship at the Long Beach Convention Center. This site was chosen in part because California has always been considered to be a dog-friendly state. As one of the premier dog events in the world, the 2006 AKC/Eukanuba Championship drew approximately 28,000 visitors to California from all fifty states as well as several foreign countries. The Long Beach Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau estimates the event’s economic impact at approximately 21.7 million dollars. In fact, the bed tax alone generated $90,200 to the City of Long Beach. We would be glad to provide you with a video tape of the 2006 show.

We are scheduled to return to Long Beach in December of 2007 and in 2008 for our next AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. Passage of AB 1634 would make that very difficult. The current draft of the bill does not provide an exemption from the intact animal permit requirements for those exhibitors traveling to California from other states, making it virtually impossible for the vast majority of our exhibitors to attend this event. This would mean a major loss of revenue for the state as well as the loss of such a prestigious event to another state. The American Kennel has discussed designating Long Beach as the permanent home of the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, but passage of AB 1634 would make that highly unlikely.

In 2006, almost 160,000 competitors participated in 137 all-breed dog shows in California. Three of the ten largest shows in the United States are held in California. Another 130,000 competitors participated in events such as agility, obedience and field trials. Thousands of purebred and mixed bred dogs pass AKC Canine Good Citizenship Certificate tests each year. The AKC conducts ongoing research regarding the economic benefits of our events, and our estimates conclude that these exhibitors contributed approximately $92 million to local California economies. Should AB 1634 be adopted, California would not only have the dubious distinction of being the least dog friendly state in the nation, but could also potentially suffer economic losses in the millions of dollars...

The American Kennel Club works to support sound, enforceable animal control laws that promote responsible pet ownership. We oppose laws, such as AB 1634, which penalize responsible owners and breeders simply for keeping their animals intact and providing the public with healthy, well socialized pets. An appropriate response to shelter population issues is an increased emphasis on promoting responsible pet ownership, rather than imposing potentially outrageous intact animal permit fees for responsible owners and breeders.

I strongly urge you to reject AB 1634 and to work with the American Kennel Club, our California clubs, and responsible owners across the state to educate the public about responsible pet ownership.

For its part, FoLBA sent a letter (text below) from its President Shirley Vaughan to Assemblyman Levine voicing strong support for his bill:

Friends of Long Beach Animals is in complete support of the California Health Pets Act (AB 1634). We actively support humane options for animals, and we have become uncomfortably familiar with the plight of stray and homeless cats and dogs. Feral colonies grow, despite the efforts of catch, neuter and release programs. The shelters are glutted, and no-kill shelters are nearly impractical. Long Beach Animal Control alone deals with thousands of animals being euthanized for lack of a good home. A large part of the City of Long Beach have uncaring and irresponsible pet owners who allow their pets to run at large and breed with more unwanted offspring added to the pet overpopulation program.

Animals in our community deserve a quality of life,. Friends of Long Beach Animals has been in business in the community for 17 years now trying to alleviate the problem of pet overpopulation and certainly appreciates your efforts with presenting this bill. Thank you for joining our fight to end pet overpopulation and the cruelty and loss of life that result from it.

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(July 11, 2007) -- State legislation to require the spaying/neutering of all dogs and cats in California (with some exceptions for breeders, working dogs, etc.) has been effectively stopped in 2007...

In a dramatic showdown development, Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (D., Van Nuys) agreed this morning (July 11) not to seek an up-or-down vote on AB 1634 in the CA Senate's Local Government Committee when it became clear that a majority of the five member Committee wouldn't vote to advance the bill, at least in its present form...

The Senate's Local Government Committee members were Senators Gloria Negrete McLeod (Chair) (D., San Bernardino), Dave Cox (Vice Chair) (R., Roseville), Tom Harman (R, Huntington Beach), Christine Kehoe (D., San Diego) and Michael Machado (D. Vacaville).

Advocacy was intense on both sides. A State Senate Committee legislative analysis of the bill estimates lawmakers received roughly 10,000 letters [!] on each side....

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[LBREPORT.com Editorial text] (Dec. 4, 2010) -- LBReport.com has learned that the AKC/Eukanuba dog show will be leaving LB in 2011 and moving back to Florida.

The move was actually announced on the AKC website in April 2009, although one wouldn't know it from the slobbering coverage the event received on the news pages of others in town.

We just learned about it after a respondent cited it in trying to refute points in our recent LBReport.com editorial, "Not Heeling at AKC Dog Show."

Here's what AKC said in pertinent part in an April 2009 dispatch on its website:

The American Kennel Club® is pleased to announce that the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship will be returning to Orlando, Florida following the 2010 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, California. The 2011 show will take place December 17th and 18th in Orlando. The event has previously been hosted in Orlando, Tampa and Long Beach.

"In an effort to satisfy constituent requests for balanced geographical representation and to accommodate our continued growth, we have selected a new venue in Orlando, Florida to host the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship for the next several years," said AKC Chairman Ronald Menaker. "We appreciate the excellent service the city of Long Beach and its Convention Center have provided us and we know that our world-class event will share the same success in Orlando."

"Excellent service" indeed. Some at LB City Hall even descended to changing LB city law -- which for years prohibited dog breeding -- to instead allow it. This came at a time when unwanted dogs (and cats) continue to receive the death needle by the City of Long Beach at taxpayer expense.

As LBReport.com editorialized on Nov. 29, 2010:

We don't wish the American Kennel Club ill. The group does some good things. However, we don't welcome the AKC dog show to Long Beach this week after it helped defeat the Pet Responsibility Act (SB 250), sensible state legislation that was supported by (among others listed below) the City of Long Beach, Long Beach Animal Care Services and multiple animal advocacy groups.

This modest bill would have required owners of unlicensed dogs to spay/neuter their canine if impounded and would have forbidden owners of cats from letting their unsterilized felines roam. Licensed dogs wouldn't have been affected unless the owner was repeatedly cited for animal control violations. The bill also included exceptions added for specific situations (full bill text linked below).

The AKC's reflexive opposition to this legislation comes after the group helped defeat a tougher spay/neuter bill (AB 1634) in the prior legislative session.

And it comes after the AKC pressed Long Beach City Hall to change city law to allow dog breeding...and the O'Neill administration came to heel.

Enough. Money made by downtown restaurants and hotels (which get the lion's share with taxpayers getting a significant but relatively small percentage) has to be balanced against taxpayer dollars spent to warehouse and kill dogs and cats, a costly revulsion.

SB 250 was sensible legislation, LB City Hall was right to support it and we urge Councilmembers to include support for similar legislation in the city's 2011 state legislative agenda.

Like the easy-date cheerleader who belatedly realizes that the quarterback really didn't love her after all, LB taxpayers need to grasp that this is what happens when they elect Councilmembers who think it's more important to provide "excellent service" for those who don't live here rather than to serve the interests of those of us who do.

In our view, one of the best parts about the show's exit from CA is that it removes whatever clout that show may have had on state lawmakers.

For our part, we hope the City of Long Beach continues its policy of supporting bills like SB 250, the Pet Responsibility Act (that deserved passage but fell short in 2010) when such legislation is hopefully reintroduced in Sacramento in January 2011.

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