At-home animal breeding ordinance nixed by council

Contrary to expectations, the Simi Valley City Council recently refused to pass a proposed ordinance that would have allowed residents to operate dog and cat breeding businesses.

The ordinance would have allowed cat owners to own as many 25 felines and dog owners up to 40 canines. The current city ordinance doesn’t allow any dog or cat breeding outside of commercial areas.

The council rejected the ordinance because they said 40 dogs were too many.

Mayor Paul Miller had mixed feelings about the action. “We want to make sure when we do (pass a law), it will work for all of us.” The idea to review and possibly change the ordinance surfaced last year when one longtime resident, who relies on sales from cat breeding as a source of income, complained to Mayor Pro-Tem Barbara Williamson that she was being targeted unfairly by the city’s code enforcement personnel.

Gwyneth Sankey accused the city of being overzealous in its efforts to shut down her business.

Sankey and others said many dog and cat breeders operate secretly in Simi Valley and are reluctant to come forward because they fear the city will shut them down.

Indeed, only a handful of breeders attended the planning commission hearings on the ordinance that were conducted earlier this year.

Citing a lack of public support and wording that was too vague, the commission rejected it.

Several people at the city council meeting grumbled when City Councilmember Steve Sojka suggested neighborhood animal breedCouncilmember Steve Sojka suggested neighborhood animal breeders could cause parking and traffic problems.

Dog breeder Maureen Kenton responded that buyers don’t come in masses. Usually there’s one person or family in one car at a time, she said.

Sankey agreed. “I don’t have 10 people (coming) for one kitten. I have one person for one kitten.” One 38-year resident, one of the few to speak against the ordinance, said allowing dog breeding in residential neighborhoods would create noise and dangerous conditions for children.

The council asked staff to craft an ordinance incorporating a wider range of choices and alternatives.