Hunger Strike for Pit Bulls
Dawn Capp, Renee Harding, and Jackie Marshall announced in late May that they were planning a hunger strike for the month of June on behalf of Pit Bulls in the northern California town of Auburn. The City Council had proposed new regulations specific to the breed that would lay down special licensing, spay/neuter, and leashing requirements, and would limit the number of Pit Bulls per household to two.
As of press time, the women were still subsisting on just 180 calories a day. They chose 180 to commemorate the number of Pit Bulls confiscated in Denver, Colorado in 2009, many of which were put to death. Capp, who runs a Pit Bull rescue organization from her home (http://chako.org), told Bay Woof that the strike also honors the fifth anniversary of the passage in 2005 of State Senate Bill 861, which permitted breed-specific legislation in California. Stay tuned to the strikers’ struggle at http://180for180.blogspot.com.
In all likelihood, the fact that the Auburn City Council voted against the breed-specific regulations on June 14 and went with a more effective and enlightened ordinance focusing on irresponsible owners and dangerous dogs of any breed had something to do with the press attention the hunger strike received.
PA Puppy Mills: Improve or Die
Pennsylvania now boasts the strictest kennel laws in the country, and substandard breeders in the state must either pay for improvements or shut their doors. The new health and safety standards are part of a state dog law overhaul that passed in 2008 and went into effect in October of 2009.
The number of commercial breeding operations has shrunk by almost two-thirds since then, though it is expected that some will reopen after renovations or have reduced the number of dogs they house to avoid being labeled as “commercial” operations. The bottom line is that breeding dogs are far less likely to be neglected and abused today in Pennsylvania than ever before. The state’s Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, an arm of its Department of Agriculture, sees the new situation as a major win, as do other animal advocates.
Said Sarah Speed, Pennsylvania state director of The Humane Society of the United States, “I think the puppy mill business in Pennsylvania is absolutely on its way out.”
Many substandard operators have surrendered their dogs (estimated at 14,000) to local shelters, sold or given them to other kennels, or converted them to family pets, rather than footing the bill for mandated improvements to their facilities. New requirements include doubling the prior cage size, eliminating wire flooring, allowing dogs access to the outdoors, and providing vet checks at least twice a year.
Warrantless Search O.K. for dogs at risk
A state appeals court has upheld the conviction of a Los Angeles area man on animal cruelty charges. His lawyer had appealed the conviction on the grounds that a search warrant is required to enter a person’s residence only if the law enforcement officer suspects that a human life hangs in the balance. Presiding Justice Joan Dempsey Klein stated that warrantless entry is legal it is necessary to aid a live animal in distress.
The convicted man, Keith Chung, was arrested after officers responding to a neighbor’s call heard a dog whimpering inside the condo, although Cheung has insisted that he didn’t own any dogs. The officers promptly entered and found an injured dog lying on the patio and a dead dog in the kitchen freezer. After unsuccessfully challenging the search, Chung pleaded no contest to animal cruelty and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Petco Settles Lawsuit
In early June, a judge of the San Diego Superior Court ordered Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. to pay hefty penalties in a lawsuit accusing the company of overcharging California customers and neglecting/mistreating animals in its stores. The company paid $1.75 million to settle the case but did not admit wrongdoing. In addition to paying the penalties, PETCO was ordered to institute better policies and procedures in regard to animal care and pricing accuracy. In 2004, Petco was ordered to pay $850,000 due to similar charges.
The law enforcement case stemmed from inspections conducted from 2005 to 2008 on Petco stores throughout California. District Attorneys from Marin and San Mateo Counties joined three southern California DAs in prosecuting the case. Marin Humane Society was involved in investigation the case and received kudos from the Marin DA for its efforts.
The court order stipulates that, for the next five years, Petco customers who are overcharged receive $3 off the lowest advertised or posted price of the item. If the item costs less than $3, the store must give it to the customer free of charge. Customers can learn more by reading the policy required by the court to be posted in every Petco store in California.
The settlement also requires that PETCO institute daily animal and habitat inspections and prompt veterinary care for sick or injured animals.
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