City Crackdown

"What is your take on San Francisco’s proposed ban on pet sales?"

Totalitarianism. How's this for a novel idea: instead of Big Brother telling us what we can do, how about getting to the root cause of why our culture is so sick that people feel the need to ban pet shop, or that we need gang injunctions, laws banning guns, marijuana and who knows what else. Whenever the government passes yet another law restricting what we can do, it means society has failed to address the root causes of problems. (Problems that were not an issue a few decades ago)

Wake up people! Bit by bit, you're rights are disappearing all in the name of progress. Ask yourselves: "What were we doing as a society before all this became a problem".

If you've spent any time in animal shelters, you'd see there's an overabundance of unwanted animals and until they all find homes, there's no need to breed. If that means the government stepping in to ban pet stores, I say go for it. Kudos to San Fran!

Have these people said what they plan to in about 10-15 years when these animals are all gone? Will they allow people to buy pets or will they decide that since pet owner...I mean guardianship creates the problem of overcrowding that it's better not to allow people to have pets?

Bill, I don't think you realize how many homeless pets there are just in the United States alone. Every person would have to own 10 cats and 5 dogs. Not every family, but every PERSON! I don't think we're running out of pets any time soon.

Pet owners in general are a pretty sick breed. Even if they are ignorant to the processes involved in creating their "pedigree" inbred abomination animals, they are still guilty of the selfish desire for ownership of another creature. Dogs and cats are invasive species that terrorize local wildlife and birds. Living in Carpinteria it was obnoxious to visit the salt marsh and see cats roaming free (with collars on). I guess their owners along the beach thought it would be nice for their precious babies to go grab lunch in the BIRD SANCTUARY. Jerks.

And dont get me started on apartment dwelling dog owners, with the incessant barking and howling from 60 pound dogs on 6-square-foot balconies until their "masters" get home from work and take them out to crap on the sidewalk.

We hear all the time about how the "evil Japanese" are taking all the tuna in the sea, and that our grandchildren may never have the opportunity to taste a rainbow roll. But does anyone have a solid figure about how much of that tuna ends up being fed to pet cats?? Thanks for nothing pet owners.

Pets can bring comfort, calmness and joy to humans. Many studies have proven the enormous benefits of animal and human contact. That being said, just like some people should never have children, some should never own pets. Don't allow the irresponsible behavior of a few tarnish the impeccable behavior of the majority of pet owners.

keep your emotional crutch in your house please.

I am a bit stunned to see the idiot cobbaners comments, yet no response back from salient animal advocates.

"Unwanted" pets will NEVER run out, purebred or otherwise. Abusive humans & their arrogant refusal to neuter/spay will never get old. Have a heart, care a little about those furred & feathered beings you so blithely endeavor to control. Not so very hard to be respectful towards ANY & ALL creatures. Kthx.

Bill,

Is it totalitarianism if it makes it on the ballot and the majority of the public votes in favor of the proposed ban?

Yes Kingprawn, people can choose totalitarianism. Remember, Hitler won by the plurality of the voters.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tota...

Deepaz hit the nail on the head. What I see in these blogs and all around me when I drive is angry, frustrated, scared people who are stressed to the breaking point and of course now the solution is to impose yet one more move to add to the stress.

Kids that grow up around animals learn to interact in a healthier way with their fellow beings. I know that offends the animal rights wackos but too bad. S.B. really needs to look at itself: we're talking about no more pets, no more cars, and God knows what else. Once again (here I go on like a broken record) why was it that a few decades ago one could have a pet, be able to afford a house, drive a car, and navigate the streets without all this strife? Oh wait, am I asking too much by wanting people to look at the root causes of all these problems?

To add to my point: people in nursing homes and prisons tend to socialize better with other people when they are allowed to interact with animals. I wonder if there is a connection between the endless road rage I see around me and the fact that so many of these people are not allowed to have pets because so many rental properties won't allow pet ownersh...oops, I meant "guardianship".

Bill,

Comparisons to Nazi Germany=forfeiture of debate.

It's just too common and easy an argument.

I beg to differ Kingprawn. My point was that totalitarianism by definition is extreme centralization of government and that idealistic people can vote it in. I pointed out the disturbing reality that even Hitler (who was obviously far worse than anything we are facing--at this point) could sell a package of lies and be democratically elected therefore I stick by what I said because I was pointing out what *could* happen if we are not vigilant.

I don't know anything about you but I've lived in the area since 1973 and if you too are an long-time resident, can you really say that apart from technological advances that our quality of life is better now?