In a unanimous decision on Tuesday, Los Angeles City Council members voted 13-0 to implement a temporary moratorium on dog breeding permits. The move comes with the hope of addressing the persistent issue of overpopulation in animal shelters throughout the county.
Under the newly approved ordinance, once shelters maintain or drop below 75% capacity for three consecutive months, the moratorium can be lifted. However, if the capacity rises above this threshold again, the moratorium can be automatically reinstated.
City officials emphasize that the moratorium is intended as a temporary measure until shelters can effectively manage the challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, the moratorium solely pertains to dogs, as shelters have reported a surge in the intake of purebred dogs in recent months.
Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, chair of the city council’s Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment Committee, underscored the urgent need for action, stating, “They’re overwhelmed with animals, and the conditions are completely unacceptable. This is both an inflow and outflow problem.”
Hernandez highlighted factors contributing to shelter overcrowding, including insufficient adoptions or fostering, a shortage of pet-friendly rental units, an influx of animals post-pandemic, and a prevalence of unspayed or unneutered pets.
“This is just to get us to a place where our shelters are manageable,” Hernandez asserted, referencing the motion she introduced.
In response to the moratorium, PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange commended Los Angeles legislators for addressing the root cause of the city’s homeless-animal overpopulation crisis. Lange emphasized the importance of enforcing spaying/neutering laws and ensuring shelters provide refuge to all animals in need.
Councilwoman Traci Park echoed Hernandez’s sentiments, emphasizing the necessity of utilizing all available strategies to reduce shelter populations and alleviate staff burnout.
While Councilwomen Monica Rodriguez and Katy Yaroslavsky were absent for the vote, the unanimous approval signals a unified effort by the council to confront the pressing issue of animal shelter overpopulation in Los Angeles.
