Meanwhile, supporters of the bill, responsible pet owners, and those in the trenches working every day to find homes for homeless animals are fighting just as ardently for the bill s passage. They recognize the value it could have for the thousands, even millions, of animals that will be saved from a homeless life. Many tears have been shed at the public hearings on both sides. One 26-year veteran of Animal Control who has had to deal with all these unwanted animals began crying while pleading for the measure s passage. But, too often, rescuers comments at the earliest meetings were drowned out by boos from the opposing members of the crowd.
Verbal altercations erupt both inside and outside of the meetings.
A few almost turned into a brawl. Los Angeles already requires dog breeders to hold a license. But of the many thousands of breeders in the city, only three actually have taken one out. When one of the Commissioners queried the breeders as to why they didn t hold the appropriate license already, there were muttered excuses about being afraid of the city s three-animal limit. Maybe the rescuers will find out where we live and steal our animals, explained one of them.