CITY WORKS ON LAW TO ALLOW BREEDING DOG, CAT PRODUCERS WANT TO HAVE LARGE GROUPS OF ANIMALS.

Byline: Angie Valencia-Martinez Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - The city is not quite ready to loosen the leash on animal keeping and breeding regulations.

For months, dog and cat enthusiasts have lobbied city officials to remove a ban on breeding of dogs and cats in residential neighborhoods.

Last week, the City Council shot down a proposed ordinance that would have allowed a breeder holding a special-use permit to keep up to 40 dogs and 25 cats, including offspring.

``The council didn't say we don't want an ordinance,'' said Councilwoman Michelle Foster. ``We want to make sure we write the correct ordinance.

``The numbers need to be relooked at so it could work across our community.''

In the coming months, city staff members will continue to meet with local breeders to work out a compromise.

``We know it's happening,'' said Mayor Pro Tem Barbra Williamson. ``People are breaking the law. So why don't we bring them in compliance with the law?''

Currently, city ordinances allow up to four dogs, cats or pot-bellied pigs per household. Residents can exceed the maximum number of animals allowed only with a special-use permit, which requires a public hearing.

Leeds Street resident Maureen Kenton has been at the forefront pushing for change.

She and her husband, Frank Kenton, show Norwegian elkhound dogs as a hobby. Currently, she has nine dogs on her property.

``If we don't have dogs, we'd be within our rights to have a noisy mule and noisy geese,'' she said. Leeds Street is in a neighborhood that allows livestock.

``We have to get to a workable number,'' she said. ``It has to be looked at on a case-by-case basis. Breeding bans are a concern. ... They can eliminate dogs, period.''

The Kentons are in the process of renewing their special-use permit.

Under the proposed ordinance:

Breeding of up to four cats on a property would be allowed in any residential neighborhood without a permit. This applies only to homes, not apartments or condominiums.

The proposal would have allowed residents to breed up to four dogs without a permit in neighborhoods that allow livestock - where the acreage is much larger than that of a tract home. And up to six dogs would be allowed on lots of 20,000 square feet or more.

With a permit, breeders would be allowed to house from five to 25 cats in all residential areas and from five to 40 dogs in animal overlay zones.

``We don't want to be totally inflexible,'' said Councilman Glen Becerra. ``We want to offer some possibility, but the idea of allowing 40 dogs is excessive.

``My main concern is protecting the quality of life in those neighborhoods,'' he said, adding that noise, smell and public safety are factors that need to be taken into consideration.

Part of the proposed ordinance would increase the number of allowable dogs or cats in animal/horse-keeping zones to six without a permit.

Angie Valencia-Martinez, [phone]

angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Maureen Kenton, with her 15-year-old Norwegian elkhound Josie, has been pushing for a law allowing the breeding of animals in residential neighborhoods.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News