I am amazed.

Legislators actually stood up to the lying, thieving, tax cheat breeder industry.

Miracles never cease.

Suggestion. Call the San Francisco Chronicle and tell them to dump breeder Christie Keith who has been using their publication to lobby for for-profit breeder interests while pretending to be a "journalist."

While her SF Gate Features Editor Amy Moon LIES for her and COVERS for her and tells people that she is "not a breeder."

Dirty business in the media.

Posted by: kelly | February 1, 2008 05:27 PM

That's brilliant, I hope all of New England is next!

Does anyone know how they plan to enforce it?

Posted by: Maya, C.V.T. | February 1, 2008 05:30 PM

Bob Barker, Mr Classy, you the man!

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | February 1, 2008 05:45 PM

The direct action efforts of LA Animal Defense League were crucial to getting this on the agenda and finally passing it. This vote will spare many animals a life of suffering and early death.

Posted by: Brandon Becker | February 1, 2008 05:53 PM

Awesome! I wish this many people would show up for every animal rights cause/event! Can you imagine the impact!

Posted by: Michael Essi | February 1, 2008 06:26 PM

That is absolutely wonderful! I only wish every city would take the same stand.

Posted by: Debby | February 1, 2008 07:00 PM

This ordinance is going to save so many animals! Woo-hoo! I'm very proud of my city today!

Posted by: LA Vegan | February 1, 2008 08:33 PM

ALRIGHT! :D

Posted by: K | February 2, 2008 01:40 AM

Wow! This is amazing. I will do my best to get Toronto to follow...

Posted by: Marcy | February 2, 2008 12:59 PM

How do we do this in our home towns?

Posted by: Kimberly | February 2, 2008 05:52 PM

but... spaying and neutering involves CUTTING and stuff. Isn't that painful?

Posted by: the one who dares criticize peta | February 2, 2008 08:00 PM

The energy was thrilling. One of the most uplifting and invigorating events I've ever been too. Those crazy animal people sure speak well! And to hear members of LA City Council appeal for a more "humane" LA - beautiful!

Posted by: Caroline Nasella | February 2, 2008 09:16 PM

Bob Barker ROCKS!

Posted by: Tamara | February 3, 2008 11:54 AM

Not to be a spoiler here, but will that law stand up to the breeders? The breeders will claim exemption from such a law, and I would guess that there's some kind of loophole that accommodates them. I'll be interested to see what happens.

Posted by: Susannah S | February 3, 2008 12:24 PM

At least someone is making progress. I think all breeders should be shut down. 3 weeks ago I looked outside and there was a purebreed Siamese (from some backyard breeders money making gimick, I am sure). She was about 6 months old. She was skin and bones and starving. We took her to the vet. She had roundworms and upper and lower breathing problems. A week later she went into heat. When the vet was doing laser surgery on her he found fluid around her belly. He said this could indicate FIP. Round worms and FIP run rampart in catteries.

Living in a small community, we have no idea who she belonged to. Most likley she was bought as some kid's Christmas present and the ignorant family found out that cats have claws, teeth, and are born furniture destroyers.

They probabally dumped her outside and perhaps dogs ran her off. Who knows? She has a good home now and after spending $500 on her she is not going to be returned to anyone. We only hope she not have FIP as we have 4 house cats, the oldest we have had for 12 years.

We need a bill that requires people to go to classes before adopting any animal. Sounds silly, but just look at all the free animals being given away. People move and can't their animals with them and just decided to dump them, sometimes after years. They also drop them off at humane societies who are in the business of finding homes for homeless animals.

People need to realized that getting a pet is a life-long committment.

We live in rural Maryland, and everywhere you look there are poor animals in cages being breed and sold at cheap prices. And this place is just overrun with homeless cats and dogs.

Posted by: Maggy | February 3, 2008 01:07 PM

Since it is quite clear what this site is about and the associated hate it promotes towards breeders, breeding and zero pet population, I think the next step should be that you all come forward, sign a document, full name, address, etc so that breeders can post a Do Not Sell To list and you would never have to be bothered again. Just a constructive suggestion. Thank you
PS there are many people in the world who love, cherish and contact breeders daily to obtain these lovely animals.

Posted by: Miriam | February 3, 2008 02:04 PM

SF Legislators regarding the spay/neuter bill and other animal issues seem to repeatedly show signs of "slinky's disease" (born without a spine) PLEASE, Los Angeles, send us some of what you've got!

Posted by: Lisa | February 3, 2008 02:14 PM

I think it is great that LA has done that, of course LA is like England, first to do a lot of things. I only wish things like this would happen in places like where I live now. I moved from Florida to Newton NC and can tell you it is like the 1800's here, the animal shelters still use gas, dogs are still tethered and chained to dog houses, I can tell of 10 houses on my block alone there is no spay/neuter laws, no leash laws, farm animal out in the snow the heat - when these things start happening in the at least 20 dogs live their lives outside on a daily 24/7 basis, I try and try but these meat eating, animal abusing, hunting trailer park rednecks are morons, when the backwards states like these rural areas start to see change and not the big cities then I will really feel progress is made. I have been a member of PETA for 10 years and have been a vegetarian for 10 I have never seen anything like this backwards state, I am so discouraged I am going back to Florida as soon as I can, I have tried for a year but the ignorance outweighs the love for animals here, I wish we had a PETA headquarters here in Catawba County North Carolina!

Posted by: Cyndi | February 3, 2008 07:25 PM

My sis-n-law were just talking about mandatory spay/neuter, I agreed and she disagreed. It should be legalized in ALL states in the USA!! woot!! to LA

Posted by: Deanna | February 4, 2008 01:28 AM

I think it is great that LA has done that, of course LA is like England,
first to do a lot of things. I only wish things like this would happen in
places like where I live now. I moved from Florida to Newton NC and can tell
you it is like the 1800's here, the animal shelters still use gas, dogs are
still tethered and chained to dog houses, I can tell of 10 houses on my
block alone dogs are chained and penned in extreem conditions. There are no spay/neuter laws, no leash laws, farm animals out in
the snow the heat - when these changes start happening in these rural redneck meat eatng hunting areas then to me a difference will be made. I have been trying for well over a year but these
meat eating, animal abusing, hunting, rednecks are morons. I have been a member of PETA for 10 years and have been a vegetarian for 10 I have never seen
anything like this backwards state, I am so discouraged I am going back to
Florida as soon as I can, I have tried for a year but the ignorance
outweighs the love for animals here, I wish we had a PETA headquarters here
in Catawba County North Carolina!
If you truly love and care for animals stay as far away from Catawba County as possible, this place will break your heart. If anyone wants to help end some of this animal suffering please contact me flawriter@aol.com maybe if more than one person cares a change can be made.

Posted by: Cyndi | February 4, 2008 11:56 AM

Miriam, you idiot, no one posting here would ever buy an animal.
Always adopt, never buy.

Posted by: Spay and neuter immediately, please | February 4, 2008 12:51 PM

To: "The one who dares critisize peta":

You asked a good question. The surgery does involve cutting, but the animals are given a face mask and given anesthesia before the surgery. When they are quite knocked out, they are given an injection in the arm (which they often do not react to) and are put into a very peaceful sleep.

Neutering only takes about 5 to 10 minutes - spaying is longer, but either way the animal is in the same state as a person having surgery - they are unconscious and wake up a bit woozy and perhaps sore, but you'd be shocked at how quickly they recover and begin running around again.

It also prevents reproductive cancers. So it's all good.

Posted by: Maya, C.V.T. | February 4, 2008 01:36 PM

Not all breeders are"lying, thieving, tax cheat breeder industry"

Posted by: Denise | February 4, 2008 03:04 PM

You must be one of them, Denise.

Posted by: Spay and neuter immediately, please | February 4, 2008 04:10 PM

If you are a breeder, or support breeders, I beg you to understand the position of animal shelters.

I interned with a vet who specialized in treating purebreds. I know that many breeders are very kindhearted.

Here's the problem: the shelters are filled with purebreds, bought from breeders, when people don't want them any more. I know many breeders say, "It's not my fault", but those of us in the animal industry, all of us, have a higher level of responsibiltiy because we have had years of training that the public has not had.

Thus it is the responsibility of all of us - breeders, vets, vet techs, shelter workers, to find homes for all EXISTING animals before we create more.

The original animal shelters opened in the early 1900s were for strays only. Those are the true "homeless" pets, they live on the streets.

The shelter I worked at had about 50 percent stray cats and 50 percent "given up" cats. In 1999 and 2000 we euthanized 60 to 70 percent of the cats brought in - 7,400 total.

No one wanted to adopt the strays, so ALL of them were destroyed. Not one single stray cat found a home while I worked at the shelter.

30 percent of the cats there were purebred - the strays could not compete with that. It was devestating.

Please, try to find it in your hearts to think about this issue.

;) Peace.

Posted by: Maya, C.V.T. | February 4, 2008 04:18 PM

This is most definitely HISTORY in the making.
We are ready in San Diego.
Bob Barker,
As always, you are a remarkable human being.
Bless your heart.

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | February 4, 2008 05:21 PM

Miriam--it is a SIN to buy animals that only fit into whatever vain head trip you may be on. Millions of perfectly loving, perfectly healthy animals are killed every year in this country for want of a good home, and yet people like you encourage the breeding of STILL MORE animals. For shame! What does this say about your value system--you can only love an animal that looks just right and fits YOUR needs perfectly?

Posted by: Kelley | February 4, 2008 06:29 PM

That is very true, Maya.

One problem is that breeders, to max profits, do NOT spay/neuter animals before they sell them.

They claim they make buyers sign "contracts" to spay/neuter, but the contracts are legally worthless. They don't work.

The buyer then lets the animal breed, or starts their own puppy mill.

Posted by: kelly | February 4, 2008 08:00 PM

im super glad!!!! im really hoping it spreads to other states including nevada, where i live...it brakes my heart to see all these over crowded animal shelters... i volunteer @ the spca and i work with cats. it really makes me mad when people walk in and say, " ew theres some big cats in here" NEWSFLASH!!! kittens do grow!!! they are supposed to be there to rescue an animal in need. cats or any other animal are not toys.... i adopted a senior cat and he is wonderful those people are so ignorant it makes me sick!!!

Posted by: marysol | February 5, 2008 02:18 AM

Hi Kelly! :)

That's so true - one of the shelters I worked at also did not spay / neuter beforehand and only had people sign a contract.

People would come in to surrender cats, and we would find out that they had adopted a kitten from our shelter several years before, and were now returning the cat, with a whole litter of kittens!

So the shelter adopted out one cat and received back five more! It gives a whole new meaning to the term "revolving door shelter".

Keep up the good fight, my friend! Namaste! ;)

Posted by: Maya, C.V.T. | February 5, 2008 11:59 AM

It’s unfortunate that this legislation does nothing to discourage pet stores from importing puppy mill dogs from other states. It will drive responsible breeders out of the area, leaving pet stores with poor quality puppies raised in sub-standard conditions as the only remaining option for people looking for a puppy, which is a worse option than buying from a byb.

If lawmakers would focus on the larger issue - puppy mills - they could greatly reduce pet overpopulation by eliminating the worst offenders - puppy mills and pet stores.

Posted by: delilah | February 12, 2008 09:20 PM