Tuesday, February 4, 2014

More with regard to NOLA Intact Animal Permit Law

Local Humane Group Asks New Orleans Newspapers to Help Stop
Pet Overpopulation; Encourages Citizens to Spay and Neuter Their Pets

New Orleans, LA, Feb 4, 2014—Supporters of the Intact Animal Permit Law, an organization founded to promote the New Orleans Intact Animal Permit Law and encourage its enforcement, have asked the Times Picayune and The Advocate to require the listing of permit numbers in any advertisements of puppies for sale, beginning immediately. Currently, dozens of breeders run advertisements in the “dogs for sale” sections of both papers without any permit numbers being advertised.

The Intact Animal Permit requirements, specifically the requirement for advertisement of Intact Permit numbers, is enshrined in the City of New Orleans Municipal Code via ordinance, Municipal Code Chapter 18, Section 309, No.5. The code states, “The intact permit number must be displayed when advertising the puppies for sale or adoption.” This ordinance was passed unanimously by the New Orleans City Council and signed by Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

“On Jan 9th, we sent certified letters to both the Times Picayune and The Advocate asking them to uphold this law, but we have not received any response so far,” said Nita Hemeter, co-founder of the group. “We have received hundreds of letters of support from virtually every Humane/Rescue Group in the New Orleans area as well as statewide and national groups, and we included those names with our petition to the newspapers.”

Tia Torres, the founder of Villalobos Rescue Center (of Pit Bulls and Parolees fame), also supports the cause and its purpose. "When Villalobos relocated to Louisiana, we thought we would be a rescue for unwanted or unloved pit bulls. However, we have discovered that the dog abandonment and surrender problem is so overwhelming that we have become the unofficial "9th Ward Dog Pound," says Torres. “The number of mixed-breed dogs in our shelter is quickly approaching our pit bull population. As many as 9O% of the dogs we take in are strays."

Supporters of the Intact Animal Permit Law have also started a Facebook page, and between its initiation on 11/25/2013 and today, the page has garnered nearly 10,000 supporters. More than 100 volunteers have offered to send letters to the editor, sign petitions, perform outreach in local neighborhoods―and even cancel their subscriptions to the newspapers if such a measure becomes necessary―to show their dedication to this effort.

“Nearly everyone I speak with fully understands how important this step is to curtail backyard breeding,” said Jennifer Farwell, co-founder of the group. “People see stray animals starving on our streets, and they hear of all the dogs and puppies being euthanized in shelters, but they don’t know what they can do directly to stop it. Here is something the newspapers CAN do, but they apparently either don’t realize its importance or are still unaware this requirement exists. We want to educate them regarding what they can do to make a difference.”

Supporters of the Intact Animal Permit Law is also starting an awareness drive to encourage pet owners to spay or neuter their animals. The group hopes its efforts will eventually result in a “breeder evaluation program,” whereby the LASPCA and/or city or state agencies will investigate those who are breeding animals to determine whether or not they are properly caring for their animals, have proper licenses and are paying taxes.

“Given the thousands of unwanted animals that die in shelters every year, we would prefer that citizens not breed their animals, at all,” Hemeter and Farwell agreed. “If they are going to breed, they should at least care for the animals properly and pay their fair share of taxes and license fees for the income they make off these creatures.” Supporters of the Intact Animal Permit Law also encourages citizens to be on the lookout for possible breeding activity in their neighborhoods, and to provide those addresses to the LASPCA for follow up, to ensure those breeders are aware of the licensing requirements.

About Supporters of the Intact Animal Permit Law
Supporters of the Intact Animal Permit Law founded to encourage adherence to and enforcement of New Orleans’ new Intact Animal Permit ordinance. The group works to reduce pet overpopulation, curtail the destructive activities of breeders and increase public awareness of this ordinance and the negative effect of unregulated breeding in the city of New Orleans. For more information, visithttps://www.facebook.com/stopbackyardbreeders.

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