New San Francisco regulations protect dogs
In San Francisco, where orphaned animals live in "pet condos" at the
SPCA, pet parents are called guardians instead of owners, and well-
heeled canines are enrolled in doggie day care, now comes a law
mandating more creature comforts for the creatures.
The ordinance, expected to be approved by the Board of Supervisors on
Tuesday, spells out exactly what the city means by providing food,
shelter and water to San Francisco's estimated 110,000 dogs.
The food: palatable and nutritious. The water: changed at least once
a day and provided in a non-tipping bowl. The shelter: big enough for
the canine to stand up and turn around in and with a raised floor and
dry, clean bedding for when the "ambient temperature falls below
that ... to which the dog is acclimated."
The law passed its first reading this week with an 8-2 vote, with
Supervisor Chris Daly absent. Supervisors Michela Alioto-Pier and
Aaron Peskin dissented.
The ordinance is designed to give teeth to the powers of animal
control officers. Dufty, who isn't a dog guardian himself, said the
officers complained that they are powerless to effectively punish
people who neglect their dogs because the law doesn't define adequate
food, water or shelter.
Dufty included an amendment to make sure the law won't be used to
hassle homeless people who keep dogs on the street with them. It
exempts "persons who, due to financial hardship, are unable to
provide shelter for themselves."
Dufty said he recognizes that the law may come across as frivolous in
a city where homeless people routinely bed down in places that would
be deemed inadequate for dogs.
But, he said, "San Francisco is a city where people are very
passionate about their animals. I'm fascinated at times that when it
comes to issues involving dogs and elephants, legions of people will
turn out ... but it's hard to get people to focus on youth violence.
"I don't view myself at all as being untethered or uninterested in
day-to-day issues that affect people," he added, noting that at the
same board meeting where the dog law was considered, he also called
for an audit of community services in violence-plagued southeastern
neighborhoods.
Speaking of being tethered, the new law highly discourages it as a
means of keeping one's pooch in the backyard but outlines one
acceptable type of apparatus, which includes a "pulley-like system"
and non-choke collar or "body harness at least 10 feet in length."
The law resulted from a yearlong effort by the animal welfare
commission, undertaken after the district attorney's office kept
dropping neglect cases because it could be argued that the animal was
receiving some kind of food, water and shelter, Dufty said.
"It will make our job a lot easier," said Carl Friedman, director of
Animal Care and Control, which employs nine animal control officers.
Without the new law, Friedman said, "If we go to a home and a dog is
in the backyard and they have plywood over some poles, it's not
enough to arrest them. Without the ability to issue a citation, that
really hampers us. What good is a roof if the dog is lying down in
the mud?"
His department plans to print brochures explaining the law so the
officers can distribute them on calls of neglect, which number about
2,000 a year.
"The whole idea is to get the animal to be in a better place, not to
punish the people," Friedman said.
As for the dogs vs. homeless comparison, Friedman said he doesn't see
it as an either-or situation.
"Just because we haven't solved the homeless problem doesn't mean we
have to give up on animal welfare."
Laurie Kennedy, chair of the commission that drafted the ordinance,
said much of the language was taken from a similar law in Los Angeles.
"In my opinion, it's just basic," said Kennedy, who also coordinates
volunteers at the SPCA, known for its pet condos.
San Francisco resident Lee Walker, who has two Dobermans she takes to
Fort Funston, said she supports any law that leads to better
treatment of dogs.
"If you're not going to step up to the plate and take the
responsibility of owning a dog, you shouldn't have one," she said. "I
can't emphasize enough, they need as much care as a child does."
Dog days in S.F.
Dogs in San Francisco: About 110,000
Reports of animal neglect per year : About 2,000
Animal control officers: 9
Municipalities with similar laws: City of Los Angeles and counties in
Louisiana, Texas, Arizona and Arkansas
Plan's requirements: Dog must have full access to an enclosed
building at all times. Structure must have five sides, including a
floor raised off the ground free of spots where insects, rodents or
parasite eggs could lodge.
Dog must be able to stand up and turn around freely and have access to
clean, dry bedding in cold weather.
Water container must be designed to prevent tipping or spilling and
must be clean, kept out of the sun and changed at least once a day.
Food must be wholesome, palatable and sufficiently nutritious.
Tethering is highly discouraged and is acceptable only if tether is
attached to a stake in the ground with a pulley-like system and to
the dog with a non-choke collar or body harness at least 10 feet long.
Penalties: First offense, infraction, fine not to exceed $50. Second
offense in a 12-month period, infraction, fine not to exceed $100.
Third and additional offense in 12-month period, misdemeanor, fine
not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment of no more than one year.
Source: Legislation, Animal Care and Control, Supervisor Bevan Dufty
Posted on SHARE Yahoo group Jan. 11, 2005