L.A. considers increasing the maximum number of dogs and cats that can be owned by residents

We've heard from a number of L.A. animal lovers that they'd love to take in another dog or cat, but they're already at their legal pet limit -- three. A proposal introduced over the summer by City Council members Bill Rosendahl and Paul Koretz would change that. In their motion (PDF), Rosendahl and Koretz argue in favor of raising the legal limit from three dogs and/or cats to five.

"Since the start of the recession, the rate of abandonment of dogs and cats has increased throughout the state as a result of the economy and home foreclosures," the proposal reads in part. "It was reported that in city shelters these factors have contributed to a 20% increase in the rate of animal impounds. ... However, there is one barrier that prevents animal adoptions -- the city's limit on the number of animals a person may own."

Raising the legal limit is an idea supported by the L.A. Department of Animal Services' new general manager, Brenda Barnette, who says the move could help prevent healthy dogs and cats from being euthanized in municipal shelters. Barnette told the L.A. Daily News that her "research shows that communities that have increased or have no pet limits, they're saving more animals' lives, with no more incidence of barking or fighting dogs." She also argues that more pets mean more pet license fees, potentially bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars in new revenue to the city coffers.

Of course, not everyone is in favor of increasing pet limits. Jim Clarke of the Apartment Assn. of Greater L.A. is one major opponent of the proposal, telling KABC News that his group is "concerned about the noise and the quality of life for our tenants. We're concerned about rodents."

San Francisco commission puts proposed pet-sales ban on the back burner

SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco commission has put off a vote on a proposal to ban pet sales to consider an alternate idea that would require pet owners to be licensed.

The Commission of Animal Control and Welfare decided after more than three hours of debate at its meeting on Thursday to postpone the vote at least until January.

Commissioner Philip Gerrie says he doesn't think the commission should rush the vote.

Gerrie proposed the ban in the spring. It would apply to dogs, cats and also small animals such as hamsters and rats.

It would need the approval of city supervisors before it could take effect.

The alternative proposal would require potential pet owners to take a class on animal care and obtain a license in order to adopt a pet.

RELATED ANIMAL LEGISLATION NEWS:
New law banning devocalization of dogs and cats to go into effect in Massachusetts
Georgia lawmakers weigh a ban of gas chambers as a means of euthanizing shelter pets

-- Associated Press

Photo: San Francisco Animal Care and Control volunteer Penny Eggen holds a guinea pig at the city-county animal shelter on July 24. Credit: Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times

July in animal news: Five questions with Best Friends Animal Society co-founder Francis Battista

We're asking experts in the animal-protection community to offer their insights on the latest animal news and fill us in on what their organizations are working on. Here, Best Friends Animal Society co-founder Francis Battista shares his take on a large-scale rescue of beagles from a medical-testing facility, the effort to increase adoptions of pit bulls and pit mixes, Best Friends' upcoming Strut Your Mutt fundraising walks in L.A. and New York and the rescue dog that inspired him to help homeless pets everywhere. Battista's responses represent his own views and not necessarily ours.

Unleashed: What do you view as the most important development in animal news to happen in July?

Francis Battista: The appointment of Brenda Barnette as the new general manager of Los Angeles Animal Services.

Unleashed: What were Best Friends' biggest projects in July?

Battista: The Great Beagle Escape: Best Friends teamed up with Pets Alive of Middletown, N.Y., to save 120 beagles from a medical laboratory after the facility went bankrupt.

Unleashed: What will Best Friends be working on in August?

Battista: Developing a shelter partnership to increase the number of pit bulls and pit bull mixes that are adopted through a program involving training and special promotions. This August we will also have rescued our 1,000th puppy mill survivor from Midwest puppy mills....[Survivors are] transported to new homes in the Northeast.

July in animal news: Five questions with Found Animals executive director Aimee Gilbreath

We're asking experts in the animal-protection community to offer their insights on the latest animal news and fill us in on what their organizations are working on. Here, Aimee Gilbreath of the L.A.-based Found Animals Foundation Inc., which works to minimize animal shelter euthanasia rates, gives us her take. Gilbreath's responses represent her own views and not necessarily ours.

Unleashed: What do you view as the most important development in animal news to happen in July?

Aimee Gilbreath: The best news for pets and families in the Los Angeles area is the launch of a new high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter facility at the East Valley shelter in Van Nuys. Getting a pet sterilized through spay/neuter surgery is safe for your pet, will help minimize certain health problems and unwanted behavior and avoid unwanted litters of puppies and kittens that crowd the shelters. This new clinic is on the grounds of the East Valley shelter and run by Clinico, a wonderful nonprofit that Found Animals helps fund.

Clinico offers low-cost sterilization as well as vaccinations and microchipping to everyone -- and special below-cost pricing for low-income pet owners thanks to the generous support of donors. As part of the grand opening festivities, Found Animals is sponsoring free surgeries for cats, pit bulls and pit mixes, and Chihuahuas and mixes belonging to low-income pet owners in Pacoima (91331), Reseda (91335), Van Nuys (91406) and North Hollywood (91605). This is a limited-time offer -- so call (818) 849-6373 for more details and to make an appointment. Clinico also has locations in Pico Rivera and Harbor with great prices and special offers so check out Clinico.org or call (888) WE-SPAY-LA.

July in animal news: Five questions with ASPCA Chief Operating Officer Dr. Steven Hansen

We're asking experts in the animal-protection community to give us their takes on the latest news involving animals and fill us in on what their organizations are working on. Here, Dr. Steven Hansen, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Chief Operating Officer, gives us his insights. Hansen's responses represent his own views, not necessarily ours.

Unleashed: What do you view as the most important development in animal news to happen in July?

Dr. Steven Hansen: H.R. 5566 was drafted in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in April to overturn a ban on the sale of animal 'crush videos,' which are sexual fetish videos that depict a woman's feet crushing to death small animals such as kittens and rodents. The narrowly tailored bill specifically addresses 'crush videos,' and hunting, fishing and trapping videos are exempt, along with videos depicting customary veterinary and animal husbandry practices.

While we're pleased that the House of Representatives is moving forward in order to protect animals from such egregious acts of torture and cruelty, we urge the Senate to quickly take up the bill.  This important humane legislation must be passed by both chambers of Congress for it to become a law.

For more information on H.R. 5566, please visit ASPCA.org/HR5566.

Animal shelters struggle to deal with influx of surrendered pets in the wake of gulf oil spill

VIOLET, La. — Double-bunked behind the bars at the overrun St. Bernard Animal Shelter are more victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill: shiny-coated Labrador retrievers, long-haired Chihuahuas and a fluffy Shih Tzu.

Among the more typical skinny, stray mutts are healthy, seemingly well-tended dogs whose owners, because of the massive spill, suddenly don't have the time or money to keep them.

"It's the economy, the uncertainty of the future, for sure," said shelter director Beth Brewster, who saw 117 owners surrender their animals last month -- up from 17 in June 2009.

May was particularly bad, Brewster said: The Violet shelter took in 288 animals that month, compared with 60 in May 2009.

Dean Howard of the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said several coastal parishes began reporting a surge in owner relinquishments immediately after the spill.

In St. Bernard Parish, nearly every livelihood is somehow connected to the gulf. Fishermen normally ply the waters for seafood. Offshore rig workers drill for oil and longshoremen unload a never-ending flow cargo ships on the Mississippi River.

Brenda Barnette confirmed as L.A. animal services manager

After more than a year without a general manager, the L.A. Department of Animal Services once again has an official leader. Brenda Barnette, who comes from the Seattle Humane Society and previously headed Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation, was unanimously confirmed by the Los Angeles City Council as the city's animal service department head on Tuesday.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced his nomination of Barnette last month, and her confirmation by the City Council was largely considered a formality. The search for a new general manager had been lengthy and robust.

Under Barnette's direction, the privately funded Seattle Humane Society shelter achieved a remarkably low euthanasia rate and killed no animals for lack of space -- one of the primary reasons homeless dogs and cats die at L.A. city shelters. But the Seattle organization also took in far fewer animals than L.A.'s municipal organization, causing some members of L.A.'s pet-loving community to wonder whether Barnette is up for the challenge of leading the troubled department.

The organization's previous head, Ed Boks, resigned in April 2009 after a tumultuous stint as general manager. Boks had angered many animal services staff members, some of whom accused him of "warehousing" animals in an effort to achieve his aim of making L.A. a "no-kill" city. He later felt the scorn of L.A. City Council members and animal welfare advocates when he decided to cut funding for free spay and neuter surgery vouchers for low-income pet owners, a decision that was later reversed.

Orange County dog-lovers club raises money for homeless animals at its pet-friendly gatherings

Some 300 Orange County residents are using their regular dog-friendly outings for a greater purpose: raising money for area no-kill animal shelters and rescue groups feeling the sting of the recession.

Brandi and Stephen Terry, a husband-and-wife pair who run a pet-care business, formed the Desperate Paws of Orange County Dog Club as a way to help dog lovers spend quality time with their pets while mingling with like-minded people. They've organized everything from an Easter egg hunt for dogs to beach outings and trips to dog-friendly restaurants.

Inspired by the story of an 8-year-old Irvine girl who raised more than $1,000 for animal cancer research by selling bracelets, the Terrys decided to use their meet-up group to help homeless pets. Over the last few months they've hit up local businesses to donate raffle prizes or a percentage of their sales. They dubbed the campaign "Paw It Forward," and so far they've raised nearly $800.

At the end of the year, group members plan to divide the proceeds from their fundraising efforts between two area shelters or rescue organizations; they'll vote to decide which groups get the cash.

Learn more about the Desperate Paws of Orange County Dog Club and the Paw It Forward campaign in reporter Abby Sewell's recent story in The Times.

-- Lindsay Barnett

Photo: Dogs greet each other at a gathering at the Lazy Dog Cafe organized by the Desperate Paws of Orange County Dog Club on June 28. Credit: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times

Animal-related things we're excited about: Betty White calendar, postage stamps help animals; Found Animals' new 'ModPawd'; 'Mr. Ed' comes to DVD

We can hardly contain our delight about these new products and services, which are making our animal-loving hearts soar. Best of all, proceeds from several of them benefit homeless or sick animals. Those are causes we can get behind!

-- Betty White, all year 'round: The animal-loving Golden Girl -- who was recently honored by the L.A. Zoo for her service and has been called "Ambassador to the Animals of the City of Los Angeles" by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa -- now has one more title to add to her resume: calendar girl. A 2011 calendar filled with shots of the 88-year-old actress goes on sale for $12.99 in September. Best of all, proceeds from the calendar benefit the Morris Animal Foundation, an organization for which White is a trustee. (We're not sure which calendar we like best: White's or last year's Hot Guys and Baby Animals. And, yes, that last one is exactly what the title implies.)

-- Introducing a TSFW (Totally Safe For Work) webcam: Local animal charity the Found Animals Foundation, which works to combat pet overpopulation and support adoption agencies, recently launched The ModPawd, a great resource for animal lovers who are in the market for a new pet or simply want some expert advice on keeping their existing pet happy and healthy. The ModPawd is a state-of-the-art facility at the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority shelter in Downey that allows guests to watch adoptable cats and dogs on a 24-hour webcam. But it gets better: Every weekday from 4 to 4:30 p.m., online visitors from around the globe can tune in for a "pawdcast," where they'll be treated to pet-centric tips from animal experts, updates on animal news and live Q&A sessions about pet care, training and more.

Shelter dogs travel from California to Canada to find new homes thanks to Canadian philanthropist

LOS ANGELES — Life after doggy death row was just a three-hour jet ride away for 60 pooches flown to Canada on Friday for adoption north of the border.

Canadian philanthropist Jan Folk watched as the small dogs were loaded into her private, 11-seat Gulfstream III headed for Edmonton, Alberta, where she said all of them would find new homes within three weeks. There will be a long line of people at the shelter early Monday, she said.

Thirty terriers, cockapoos, Yorkies, Chihuahuas, bichons and other breeds from the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority in Downey took off from Long Beach Airport, along with 30 small dogs from the Central California Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Fresno.

The Downey dogs were all unclaimed, unchipped and untagged and had been at the shelter just south of Los Angeles between 13 and 30 days, Southest Area Animal Control Authority director of operations, Aaron Reyes, said.

They were literally on doggy death row.