HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006/12/05 Item 4
ORDINANCE NO. O<(\\O~
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ORDINANCE OF THE CITY C~ill'\~[>.~F THE CITY OF
CHULA VISTA AMENDINQ,"i:,caurA VISTA MUNICIPAL
CODE TITLE 6 "ANIMALS" TO ADD CHAPTER 6.30,
ENTITLED ANIMAL SALES, AND SECTIONS 6.30.010 AND
6.30.020
WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista has been in the business of providing animal control
services since 1923; and
WHEREAS, since the construction of a new Animal Care Facility in October 2002,
animal intake numbers have continued to rise and daily inventory of animals average 300-500;
and
WHEREAS, there has been a 20 percent increase in animal intakes over a two-year
period; if this trend continues, the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility (CV ACF) will be unable to
accommodate the number of unwanted animals in our community, causing concern for public
health, safety, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, responsible pet ownership is achieved by education, outreach, and
enforcement activities, and the CV ACF promotes various spay/neuter programs for residents;
and
WHEREAS, despite educational and outreach efforts, the number of unwanted pets
continues to increase in our community; and
WHEREAS, an additional threat to the stabilization of our animal population is the sale
of "designer breed" puppies smuggled from Mexico, with the multi-agency Border Puppy Task
Force estimating that as many as 10,000 young puppies have entered San Diego County from
Mexico this year; and
WHEREAS, rabbits, chicks, and ducklings are also commonly sold at local swap meets
and in parking lots; in 2003, the CV ACF received 150 rabbits into the facility; in 2005, the
numbers increased to 181, an increase of20 percent; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the City Council of the City ofChula Vista in enacting this
ordinance to discourage residents from breeding their animals and then selling or giving away
unwanted progeny of any age in public places; to reduce the number of unwanted animals in the
city and at the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility; and to strengthen enforcement abilities.
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NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City ofChula Vista does ordain as follows:
SECTION I: That Title 6 (Animals) of the Chula Vista Municipal Code is amended to
add Chapter 6.30, entitled Animal Sales, and Sections 6.30.010 and 6.30.020, to read as
follows:
6.30.010 Sale of animals, birds, or reptiles on public property or on private property
open to the public prohibited.
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It is unlawful to give away, offer for sale, sell, exchange, or transfer for any form of
consideration, or for no consideration, any animal, bird, or reptile on public property
or on pri vate property open to the public, including, but not limited to, areas in front
of stores, commercial shopping areas, commercial park areas, swap meets, and
auctions.
6.30.020 Exceptions
Section 6.30.010 shall not apply to:
A. Any legally recognized non-profit charitable organization that provides or
contracts to provide services as a public animal sheltering agency.
B. Any legally operated business that sells animals, birds, or reptiles in its normal
course of business.
C. Any non-profit animal rescue or adoption organization.
D. Any gift, sale, exchange, or transfer of any animal, bird, or reptile on public
property or on private property open to the public that is authorized by federal or
state law.
SECTION II: Effective date.
This ordinance shall take effect thirty days after final passage.
Presented by:
Approved as to form by:
Jack Griffin
Director of General Services
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