UPDATE 10/3/19: The next hearing of the Personnel and Animal Welfare Committee will be October 16 @ 2:00 PM. Please try to attend and voice opposition! Details below.
DATE: Wednesday, October 16, 2019 @ 2:00 PM
LOCATION:
Los Angeles City Hall
Room 1060
200 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Los Angeles posted (8/23/19) a proposed ordinance to regulate the exhibition of “dangerous animals” and “wild and exotic animals” which we previously reported. Essentially, the vague definitions provided for those terms will make this permit applicable to all programs using any species not widely accepted as domesticated.
For off-site programs (i.e. at a school or library) you must:
1. apply for a permit at least 10 days prior;
2. your program must qualify as a “Conservation or Educational Presentation”;
3. you must pay $425 for each program (according to the current draft as off-site permits are only good for one event);
4. according to the definitions, you would need this permit to take a corn snake to a school, a bearded dragon to a library, or even a tree frog to a Scout troop for a program.
5. Snakes over 6′ and many other animals (with open interpretation) will be labeled as “dangerous animals” and a separate permit is required for each event with such animals.
This is an overreaching permit system similar to the Traveling Exotic Animal Program Bans we are seeing proposed (and sometimes passing) across the country and even at the federal level.
Here are two pertinent links:
1. the ordinance language (2019 LA Exotic Animal Act Ord): www.usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2019-LA-Exotic-Animal-Act-Ord.pdf
2. the report from the city attorney (Report for 2019 LA Exotic Animal Act Ord): www.usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2019-LA-Exotic-Animal-Act-Ord-report.pdf
Sample Messaging
Council Member directory: www.lacity.org/your-government/government-information/city-council/council-directory
The email list to contact Council members is below but you must submit comments via this link for them to be entered into record: www.cityclerk.lacity.org/publiccomment. The file number is 16-1357
Email list: Paul.Koretz@lacity.org, councilmember.lee@lacity.org, councilmember.price@lacity.org,
councilmember.cedillo@lacity.org, councilmember.Krekorian@lacity.org, councilmember.blumenfield@lacity.org,
councilmember.blumenfield@lacity.org, councilmember.martinez@lacity.org, Councilmember.Rodriguez@lacity.org,
councilmember.wesson@lacity.org, councilmember.bonin@lacity.org, councilmember.ofarrell@lacity.org,
councilmember.huizar@lacity.org, councilmember.buscaino@lacity.org, councilmember.harris-dawson@lacity.org
Subject: Opposition to Animal Exhibition Ordinance
Sample Letter
pease edit/personalize
Personnel and Animal Welfare Committee and Los Angeles City Council Members,
I oppose the draft proposal (file number 16-1357) for the overregulation of animal exhibitions as a responsible animal educator. Please work with the affected stakeholders and qualified animal keepers to resolve the issues with this proposal. Currently, the language is rife with unintended consequences and lacking foresight.
Please allow the people who work with these animals to assist with any ordinance. Their expertise and knowledge should not be dismissed as they are the people who actually understand these animals and their needs. Thank you for your time and have a good day.
Sincerely,
(YOUR NAME)
