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[email protected], Jim Bickhart (LA Mayor's Office) at
[email protected], Brenda F. Barnette (General Manager of LA Animal Services) at
[email protected] and L.A. Animal Services Commission Secretary (for President - Melanie Ramsayer & Vice-President Ruthanne Secunda) at
[email protected]. Thank you.
RE: ORDINANCE NO. 181851: An ordinance amending Section 53.42 of Article 3, Chapter 5 of LA Municipal Code (LAMC) to add a prohibition on the purchase of animals on public streets and sidewalks to the existing prohibition on the sale of animals on public streets and sidewalks in the City of Los Angeles. (
http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2009/09-0632_ord_181851.pdf) was introduced at the meeting of the Council of the City of LA August 3, 2011, and was passed at its meeting of August 10, 2011.
Dear Councilwoman Perry:
Despite the recently passed ordinance which banned the purchase of animals, the illegal animal sales in Los Angeles Fashion District and Santee Alley are thriving. A California law has already been in place banning the sales for years, but the efforts to stop the practice by the authorities have been unsuccessful. The new law voted on in August and implemented in September 2011 was to carry a misdemeanor charge and impose fines from $250 up to $1,000 for anyone who buys, attempts to buy or even barters for a live animal on city streets and sidewalks.
As a concerned citizen and animal lover, I am shocked to discover that there are no indicators (signs?) to alert the public that this practice is illegal. The animals (puppies, kittens, birds, turtles, and bunnies) are STILL sold in filthy conditions without shade to protect them from the sun, without food or water. Many are sick and dying when sold as pets for children by children. Baby bunnies, paraded as "3 month old dwarfs" are consistently sold at 7 - 10 days old. Children whose parents buy these bunnies are subjected to watching them suffer, seizure, and die a violent death days or hours after purchase.
Not only is this an issue of animal cruelty and child labor, but a public safety as well. Baby bunnies are sold next to turtles which carry Salmonella naturally. The CDC warns against catching Salmonella from turtles that can spread other diseases as well, such as TB, chlamydiosis, arizonosis, and colibacillosis. The sale of turtles smaller than 4 inches has been banned since 1975; but this doesn't stop the illegal animal vendors from selling them.
Why aren't the signs warning people NOT to buy these animals up? How can the legislation be implemented if the public is not even made aware of the illegal status of the sales/purchases, let alone the fines/penalties for both sellers and buyers that are rather significant? ($250 first, $500 second, $1000 third offense)
We know you have helped the Board of Animal Services Commission's initiative to implement the most recent ordinance in an effort to stop the illegal sales of all animals in Santee Alley. You have shown the community that you do not condone cruelty to animals and that you are very concerned with public safety. However, legislation without implementation does not change the years of status quo in the most infested area of Los Angeles - LA Fashion District and, more specifically, in Santee Alley.
Please POST SIGNS in English, Spanish, and Chinese, informing the public that animal sales and purchases are illegal. Please urge the Mayor's office to speed up this very basic need to accompany the very ordinance you supported.
Sincerely,

Email Councilwoman Jan Perry (August 2008)
LA City Councilmember Jan Perry
200 N Spring St # 420
Los Angeles, CA 90012
[email protected]
Please copy and paste this letter into your email. You can send the letter as it is, or customize it as you wish. Also, copy us at
[email protected]. Thank you.
Dear Councilwoman Perry:
As a concerned citizen and animal lover, I am shocked to discover that there are illegal animal sales going on in Santee Alley. These animals are in filthy conditions; they have no shade to protect them from the sun, no food or water. Many of them are sick or dying and are still being sold as pets for children.
Not only is this an issue of animal cruelty, it is a public safety issue as well. Today we are seeing a huge recall of tomatoes due to Salmonella outbreaks. The CDC also warns against catching Salmonella from turtles as well, which carry Salmonella naturally. Turtles can also spread other diseases, such as TB, chlamydiosis, arizonosis, and colibacillosis. The sale of turtles smaller than 4 inches has been banned since 1975; but this doesn't stop these people from selling them.
We know you are very concerned about sales of pirated goods in Los Angeles, and animals should be treated just as seriously as bogus DVDs, fake designer shoes and other goods. Please stop the illegal sale of all animals in Santee Alley. Please show the community that you do not condone cruelty to animals and that you are very concerned with public safety. We are asking you to start by posting signs, in English and Spanish, informing the public that animal sales are illegal.
Sincerely,

