It has come to our attention that proponents of SB250 are telling legislators that when people who participate in dog events do so, they operate under permits which allow them to avoid animal control laws while participating in those events.
We are sure our legislators are aware that no one can issue a permit to allow laws to be broken. If an animal control law says (and almost all of them do) that tags shall be worn at all times, then that is the law. And that is one of the many dangers for responsible dog owners and how they will easily be caught up in the punishments of SB250.
When dog events are held, no special permits are obtained. Rather, locations are rented, just as for any other type of event.
The proponents are also saying that these laws will hardly ever be enforced (so one wonders why they are fighting so hard for them) and that no community would enforce a law against responsible people.
So that you can speak to this issue first hand we would suggest you check these links.
In Los Angeles, rather than going into the neighborhoods where roaming dogs are a problem, the Los Angeles Police Department and Animal Control is performing raids in the upper class neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades and Rustic Canyon.
In Encinitas, Police raided a park and rounded up the lawbreakers who ran 10 minutes late leaving the park, which had no one else in it anyway.
Were these people breaking the law? Yes. And under SB250 any intact dogs would be sterilized.
It's human nature; the police and animal control are going to continue to target those people where it is the safest to issue tickets; they are not going to choose to go into neighborhoods where they are uncomfortable. So as with all these things, it is the responsible people that will pay while the others are ignored.
Be sure you make YOUR legislator aware that (a) there are no permits given to break the law and (b) police and animal control officers to enforce all these laws. Send them the links so they can see for themselves.
