Blog: L.A. is Man's Best Friend; Newport Harbors the Inhumane

Los Angeles, the second largest city in the nation, has just passed a landmark ordinance targeting high volume commercial breeders to reduce the number of animals euthanized each year and to help shut down puppy and kitten mills. This ordinance does not affect responsible hobby breeders, only those who sell to pet dealers. 

Newport Beach citizens have presented evidence of community victimization in fraudulent sales of sick and dying animals from Russo’s in Fashion Island. In a personal meeting with a council member last year, it was said that council is aware Russo’s sells puppy mill puppies. But the Newport Beach City Council is "business at all costs,” despite the clear fact that humane businesses, such as  Muttropolis, do floursih without fraud and animal abuse.

On Oct. 31, Russo’s Spectrum in Irvine closed their doors because owner Dan Digiacomo’s refused to practice a humane business model. Elizabeth Oreck, of Best Friends Animal Society, is an expert in drafting city ordinances and continues to play a key role in Los Angeles helping pet stores transition into humane business models. 

"Puppy mills are in business to supply the retail pet trade. Meanwhile 500,000 animals are euthanized in California's shelters every year at taxpayer expense," Oreck said. "To continue importing puppies and kittens from mills in other states while we are killing the surplus that are already filling our shelters simply doesn't make sense."

Oreck said ordinances that restrict the sale of commercially bred dogs and cats in retail outlets are critical in the fight against pet mills.

"As the demand for these animals gets smaller, so too will the supply. This is why 27 other cities have already passed similar ordinances to address the puppy and kitten mill crisis in their own communities," Oreck explained. "It's time for Newport Beach to follow suit."