Contact:   
David Vossbrink, (408) 277-3515, Communications Director

 
San Jose, CA ----  An urgency ordinance to restrict the sale of pets in outdoor settings that are harmful to animals was approved today by the San Jose City Council.

According to San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, the urgency ordinance is necessary to strengthen current city regulations aimed at ensuring the safe and humane handling of animals prior to their sale.

“This ordinance will help protect animals from abuse and prevent unsafe and unsanitary conditions by providing the City with greater authority to regulate the outdoor sale of pets,” said Gonzales.

San Jose code enforcement officials have found that animals for sale in outdoor locations are often subject to extreme temperatures or are left in direct sunlight that can affect their welfare. 

“Since last July, when we took over the responsibility for animal control enforcement, we have seen far too many cases and complaints about the abuse of animals at outdoor sales,” said to Steve Emslie, San Jose Deputy Director of Code Enforcement.

“It is difficult, if not impossible, to provide animals with adequate protection from the elements when they are sold outdoors in locations such as flea markets. Unfortunately, many animal vendors have also demonstrated a pattern of disregard for compliance with city regulations, even after they have been informed, warned, and cited by our inspectors.”

San Jose inspectors checking outdoor sales sites have consistently found animals in unsanitary enclosures, inadequate food and water, unhealthy accumulations of animal waste, inappropriate food for the animal species, animals showing signs of injury, and a lack of required records documenting age and immunizations of the animals.

“We are pleased that the City of San Jose has taken this step to protect animals that are for sale,” said Christine Benninger, Executive Director of the Santa Clara Valley Humane Society.  “This is an excellent example of the city’s responsiveness and cooperation to help remedy a serious problem in our community.”

The urgency ordinance will prevent new animal vendors from obtaining permits for outdoor sales and would enable city staff to work to remove existing vendors as soon as possible.  The city will hold a public hearing by late May to review the urgency ordinance and to consider enacting it as a permanent ordinance.