Pet Advocacy Network Condemns Ojai’s Overreaching Ban on Beloved Pet Breeds

Sweeping Law Outlaws the Breeding of French Bulldogs, Pugs, Dachshunds, Corgis, Shar-Peis, Mastiffs, and More

Alexandria, Va. – On Tuesday night, Ojai Mayor Betsy Stix and the Ojai City Council in California voted to adopt a misguided new law — the Companion Animal Protection Ordinance — making it the first city to ban the breeding of a wide range of cherished dog and cat breeds.

Concerningly, the Council ignored input from citizens who spoke out against the bill at a public
hearing earlier this month and didn’t appear to consult any experts with real-life experience
breeding pets.

Instead, the Council took months of input from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has argued against breeding and pet ownership entirely, saying, “would have been in the animals’ best interests if the institution of ‘pet keeping’—i.e., breeding animals to be kept and regarded as ‘pets’—never existed.”

The sweeping legislation outlines 19 different categories of “congenital anatomical features”—ranging from “excessive skin folds” to certain snout lengths—as grounds for a ban. Impacted breeds include beloved French Bulldogs, Pugs, Dachshunds, Corgis, Shar-Peis, Mastiffs, Persian cats, and more.

The Pet Advocacy Network (PAN), which advocates for the responsible pet care community at all levels of government, is speaking out against the law, characterizing it as an attempt to ban purebred dogs in general.

“This law is an outrageous overreach that insults responsible pet owners and breeders and takes away their freedom to choose their ideal cat or dog,” said Mike Bober, president and CEO of PAN. “The legislation flies in the face of veterinary science showing that these breeds lead happy, healthy lives with loving families when bred responsibly.”