Kern County Ordinance Amendments

Tehachapi Mountain Dog Fanciers

Kern County Ordinance Amendments

Animal Control Commission

At the 18 November 2009 Kern County Animal Control Commission meeting, they reviewed and revised the previous ordinance changes. The new version makes sense. It does not penalize people who have more than an arbitrary number of dogs and cats, and requires that those who deliberately or negligently breed their dogs and cats to restrict the litter production or purchase a Commercial Animal Facility Permit. This version of Title 7 Ordinance changes will be heard by the Board of Supervisors during the 2:00PM session on December 8. TMDF support the ordinance changes.

http://www.co.kern.ca.us/RMA/ACC_A&S.asp

TMDF have been active in presenting pro-dog suggestions and we consistently attend workshops and A. C. C. meetings. We have seriously discussed how to address the problems of dog-dumping, backyard/mini puppy mills, and the high kill rate in our government shelters. We have given our proposed scheme to the Animal Control Commission. (see under Statements)

TMDF considers the neglect or abuse of animals to be a serious affront to society's humanity. Abuse and neglect can occur to one animal in a household and it can occur to twenty animals. The cases of mass neglect or abuse are obviously more sensational to read and hear about than one dog found abandoned and starving. But, one neglected dog is no less an affront to us than twenty. Therefore we will continue to push our government authorities to craft laws that speak to the deed and not the number.

TMDF is aware of the health benefits and risks associated with sterilization. We think the decision to sterilize, or not, should be made by the animal owner and their veterinarian and not by our government. We are supportive of low-cost sterilization clinics and programs but we oppose mandatory sterilization of all dogs and cats.