200 People Attend Hearing on Dog Overpopulation

SYLMAR — A highly polarized crowd of about 200 animal lovers attended a meeting Tuesday night of the Los Angeles Animal Regulation Commission, debating a controversial proposal to curtail animal breeding.

The issue has pitted animal rights and rescue groups against breeders and owners of purebred pets.

Breeders complained that restrictions in the ordinance, such as limiting litters to one a year, would put them out of business.

“It’s going to kill my hobby,” said Joe Berger, a Valley Village resident who has bred Rhodesian ridgebacks for 35 years.

Rescuers argued that abandoned and unwanted purebreds--not just free-breeding wild packs--constitute a significant portion of the overpopulation problem. As proof, representatives of a coalition of rescue groups paraded what they said were unwanted purebreds they had rescued.

The controversial proposed ordinance would make it illegal to own a dog or cat that has not been sterilized, unless the owner pays hundreds of dollars for a license and permit. Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and face penalties including jail and stiff fines.