What's Next on the Council's Plate? Cats, Birds, Other Animals?

Editor's note:  This letter was sent after the Dec. 14 council meeting regarding a possible ordinance targeting puppy mills. It was addressed to members of the La Mesa City Council and shared with La Mesa Patch.

Quite an interesting display from the leader of the group that admittedly is using the City of La Mesa as a test case in San Diego County to further her specific agenda. In spite of so-called empirical evidence and writings in national magazines, this display was below a standard to implement any municipal law.

However, you have collectively decided the issue merits further consideration and I would offer the following as a start towards such. Of course, maybe the proponent has already answered these questions.

Is there a legal definition of a "puppy mill"? Is there a legal definition of a shelter-breeder (or the acceptable ones to the proponent) facility? What are the specific local, state of California and federal laws regarding this type of business?

What are the state or local laws of the resident places of business of the so-called puppy mills and other animal shelters and producers?

Which state (California or other) and federal legislators, law enforcement officials or agencies have been contacted by this proponent and provided with the subject information? (If not, why not?) When did this take place and what are their replies?

What actions have been taken or are pending by law enforcement anywhere? Are there any new California or federal laws changes pending? [What about] in the "puppy mill" states?

If California law has acceptable regulations regarding this issue, what changes could be made that would require importers to California and their resellers to adhere to the same laws? Has the proponent looked into this and what was the outcome?

Have you inquired of the now closed Pet Works as to a list of all pet purchase customers? How many animals did they actually sell during their time in business in La Mesa?

What is the dissatisfaction rate for the targeted business as compared to other businesses? The industry standard? The standards of shelter breeders? Did this targeted business break any laws of any kind? Has there been any health and safety issues arise due to the business operations of Pet Works or other like operators?

Do the breeders acceptable to the proponent all pay state and federal business taxes? Collect sales and use taxes? When they sell to a La Mesa resident does La Mesa get a share of those taxes? Do they pay legal wages? Do they provide employee benefits? If these business are in the U.S., do they employ only workers legally in the U.S.? Are any acceptable operators union-affiliated?

When they move animals around for acceptable breeding techniques, do they employ or use legal animal transportation measures (if there are any)? And if not, why not? How often are those animals moved around from breeder to breeder to prevent inbreeding diseases?

What records are these operators required, by law, to keep and for how long? How are diseased and inferior animals destroyed and disposed of?

What government agency, if any, monitors the proponents' acceptable businesses? How often are they inspected? How does this compare to operators like Pet Works?
If La Mesa chooses to implement any new laws regarding this issue, will it use the same standards for weighing in on other issues? Cats, birds, other animals?

Regards,
Scott Kidwell