Oakland Passes Ordinance to Limit Dogs to 3 Per Household

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Here's a recent article on the issue from the Chron

OAKLAND
Plan to limit dog owners to 3 called all bark, no bite
Many wonder how city will enforce ordinance if it's approved tonight
- Jim Herron Zamora, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Supporters and opponents of a proposed Oakland ordinance restricting residents to three dogs agree on one thing: The law will be useless if the city does not enforce it.

"If the city had enforced the (current) law, we wouldn't be here now," said supporter Michael Hoolihan, whose case helped inspire the proposed ordinance that is scheduled for approval before the Oakland City Council tonight. "We've tried everything else."

For two years, Hoolihan, Kolleen Pardi and two neighbors on Winthrope Street have complained to police, animal-control officers and city officials about the nuisance caused by as many as 20 dogs in a home next to theirs that is owned by two sisters.

Karen Reid, who owns the home, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of causing a public nuisance, and neighbors also obtained a restraining order forbidding her from keeping more than two dogs on the property. The city of Oakland also declared the property a nuisance and ordered her to clean up the area.

But all those efforts have produced only minor results, neighbors said. Reid could not be reached Monday but has told neighbors that she helps dog-rescue groups. Two dogs were visible in her front yard all day, and three more barked at a reporter from inside. The smell of dog feces was apparent across the street.

"Those dogs shouldn't be forced to live like that," said Sharon Olsen, who lives across the street.

Under the ordinance, which received preliminary approval in July and is expected to pass tonight, residents with more than three registered dogs could keep their pets. But as those canines pass away, owners can have only three dogs without getting a special permit.

The measure would exempt puppies less than 4 months old, breeders, kennels and dog-rescue groups. A similar effort last year stalled after residents complained about proposed bans on chickens, pigs and goats.

But Councilman Larry Reid, who was moved by the Winthrope Street case, reintroduced a modified version this year that was amended by Councilwoman Jean Quan.

The proposed ordinance would also require that dog owners obtain a city license and their canine receive microchip implants for easier identification.

The ordinance would also prohibit roosters within the city limits without a special permit. At a public hearing on an early version of the proposal in 2004, several speakers pointed out that roosters were often too noisy for an urban environment but that chickens were no problem.

"We really made a lot of changes based on what people said to us," Quan said. "The process is complaint driven. We really want to use this against irresponsible backyard breeders."

But Nancy Sidebotham, who lives near Mills College, said the proposed ordinance would encourage petty neighborhood disputes.

"The city has plenty of laws on the books to crack down on bad pet owners," said Sidebotham, who has eight dogs of her own. "But the city isn't going to do that. This law is just going to hurt people who obey the law. The backyard breeders that they should crack down on are just going to ignore the city like they do anyway."

Sidebotham has been involved in dog and cat rescue for 30 years and could probably get a license to keep more dogs than the ordinance would allow. But she is worried that the ordinance would discourage many other people who volunteer to foster unwanted dogs until permanent homes can be found.

"This ordinance just creates more problems," Sidebotham said. "It doesn't provide any more resources for enforcement."

But Quan said that the city was in the process of reorganizing its Animal Control Department and that she hoped more resources for enforcement would be available next year.

Meanwhile, the neighbors on Winthrope Avenue are just hoping for some change.

"We shouldn't have to put up with this," Pardi said.


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