Riverside has no limit on the number of cats and dogs residents can
keep at home. Downtown resident Faith Safier says that needs to
change.
On Monday, she and a few of her supporters made their case to the
City Council's Public Safety Committee.
Opponents of pet limits -- who outnumbered supporters -- objected, saying responsible owners of numerous cats and dogs should not pay
the price for irresponsible pet owners.
About 50 people attended the meeting at City Hall. The presentation was purely informational, Councilman Andy Melendrez said.
Based on a bad experience with a neighbor whose dogs would bark incessantly while their owner was at work, Safier founded Citizens for Companion Animal Limits.
"All the cities around here have a limit," she said.
Safier suggested that Riverside set a maximum of four cats and dogs combined per residential parcel.
She said barking dogs can shatter the tranquillity of a neighborhood. Keeping numerous pets on residential lots endangers
the health of the animals, affects the environment with their urine
and feces, and harms real estate values, Safier said.
Phyllis Daugherty, director of Los Angeles-based Animal Issues
Movement, attended the meeting with Safier. Animal shelters grow
crowded, dog attacks rise and sanitation issues result when people
are allowed to have as many pets as they want, she said after the
meeting.
"They need to pass a sensible, sane limit," Daugherty said of
Riverside.
Opponents of Safier's proposal said restrictions on pet ownership
are not needed.
"I don't think we have to be copycats," said retired U.S. Air Force
Col. Carl Gjelhaug. "I don't care what the rest of the world does.
Let's maintain the status quo."
Patrick MacIntosh said Safier's proposal was misguided.
"It only takes one dog to drive you crazy," he said.
The solution to barking dogs, MacIntosh said, is strong enforcement,
which the city currently lacks.
The police, rather than animal control officers, should respond to
calls about barking dogs, MacIntosh said.
"People are afraid of the police," he said, adding that they listen
to what the police tell them to do.
Reach Doug Haberman at 951-368-9644 or dhaberman@PE.com
REINING IN PETS
Riverside has no restriction on the number of dogs and cats a
residence can house, but other areas do impose household limits.
Banning: Three dogs and three cats.
Corona: Three weaned dogs and three weaned cats.
Fontana: Three dogs and three cats per single-family home and one
dog and one cat per apartment.
Hemet: Three dogs and four cats more than 4 months old.
Moreno Valley: Four pets (any combination of dogs and cats).
Unincorporated Riverside County: Four dogs and nine cats more than 4
months old.
