Animal breeding advocates seek City Council support

  During Monday’s City Council meeting at City Hall, animal advocates asked for city councillors to regulate animal breeding to help reduce unwanted and abandoned animals. Ward 5 Councillor Vivian Nguyen proposed an ordinance to regulate animal breeding.

  Sweet Paws Rescue Founder Cynthia Sweet said that in the state of Massachusetts there’s no oversight for animal breeding. However, as a foster-based nonprofit, everything is highly regulated. Her nonprofit takes in abandoned, strays and owner-surrendered Everett dogs and pays for veterinary care and spay/neuter services.

  Everett Animal Control Officer Stacia Gorgone brought Pepper to the meeting, a dog that will cost close to $4,000 for her organization to care for – a blind dog inflicted with a tumor as a result of bad breeding, they said. “I hope you guys can think about the fact that regulating breeding in the city is really a no-brainer,” Sweet said. “If I’m highly regulated and I’m not making any profit, why aren’t they?”

  Sweet said they’re responsible for making sure animals are healthy before adopting them out.

  Gorgone said the state doesn’t have any regulations and that it’s a serious problem in all cities and towns. “How come people are taking innocent animals, like Pepper, breeding them, and there’s nothing I can do as a law enforcement animal control officer?” Gorgone asked. “I feel helpless.”

  Gorgone said she saw a woman raffling off puppies, and another woman breeding kittens to feed her snakes. “I know you all love animals,” Gorgone addressed City Council members. “But please help me to do my job better.”

  Gorgone said that when she reached out to a state official, she was told that rescue dogs were considered damaged goods and should be euthanized. She felt that breeding would be a more humane alternative.

  Nguyen, who volunteered at a cat shelter, said she’d like to require breeders to obtain a city license and have them undergo necessary training to make sure they meet minimum standards of animal breeding set by the city. “It would help to eliminate animals in shelters – neglect and abuse,” Nguyen said. “The state has strict regulations for fostering, which leaves a significant gap.”