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City Council OKs Fines For Pet Sales On LA Streets, Sidewalks

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Animal lovers around the Southland on Wednesday applauded a City Council vote to outlaw the sale of live animals on the streets of Los Angeles.

The new law will carry a misdemeanor charge and imposes fines from $250 up to a $1,000 for anyone who buys, attempts to buy or even barters for a live animal on city streets and sidewalks.

KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports Councilwoman Jan Perry came up with the idea despite a California law already in place banning the practice.

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Perry said she introduced the measure in response to low vaccination rates among animals sold on the street, many of which have been taken from their mothers too soon and often end up being abandoned.

LAPD Commander Andrew Smith said the sale of puppies, kittens, bunnies, turtles, birds and other animals is a problem city-wide.

"This is a big problem, but this just one small piece in a puzzle of enforcement and education," he said.

Animal activists and other proponents of the law, meanwhile, are hailing the effort as another step toward the animals themselves are protected.

"They're little babies, they come in, they're sick, they die," said one man.

The law could take effect in September.

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