A. Existing federal and state laws regulate the sale of dog and cat fur products. This includes the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000 (19 U.S.C. § 1308) and California Penal Code § 598a.

B. The Federal Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000 makes it unlawful to import into, or export from, the United States any dog or cat fur product; or to engage in interstate commerce, sell, offer to sell, trade, advertise, transport, or distribute in interstate commerce any dog or cat fur product. Any person who violates this Act may be assessed a civil penalty up to $10,000 per violation.

C. The Federal Fur Products Labeling Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 69, et seq.) makes it unlawful to introduce, or manufacture for introduction, into commerce, sale, advertising or offering for sale in commerce, or the transportation or distribution in commerce, of any fur product which is misbranded or falsely or deceptively advertised or invoiced.

D. California Penal Code section 598a makes it a misdemeanor to possess, import into the state, sell, buy, give away or accept any pelt of a dog or cat with the sole intent of selling or giving away the pelt of the dog or cat. Also, Title 14, Part 1 of the California Penal Code criminalizes a variety of other offenses against animals, including willfully administering poison to any animal (Cal. Penal Code §596), cruelty to animals (Cal. Penal Code §597), failure to care for animals (Cal. Penal Code § 597f) and abandonment of animals (Cal. Penal Code § 597s).

E. The state Legislature has also considered other animal protection measures, including prohibiting the sale of products that result from the force feeding of a bird for the purpose of enlarging the bird’s liver beyond normal size (Senate Bill 1520); and prohibiting the possession, sale, trade or distribution of shark fin (Assembly Bill 376).

F. Neither the federal government nor the state legislature has endeavored to regulate the sale of fur products, excluding the sale of dog or cat fur products. Until the federal government or the state legislature decides to regulate the sale of fur products from other animals, local governments are free to limit the types of procedures that may be performed within their jurisdictions for the protection of the public health, safety and general welfare.

G. The City Council finds that animals who are slaughtered for their fur, whether they are raised on a fur farm or trapped in the wild, endure tremendous suffering. Animals raised on fur farms typically spend their entire lives in cramped and filthy cages. Fur farmers typically use the cheapest killing methods available, including suffocation, electrocution, gas and poison.

H. More than 50 million animals are violently killed for use in fashion every year. Methods used to kill animals for their fur include gassing, electrocution, and neck-breaking. Fur-bearing animals are also caught and killed in barbaric body-grilling traps.

I. According to the Humane Society of the United States, the fur industry kills more than 50 million animals a year. On fur factory farms around the world, millions of raccoon dogs, rabbits, foxes, mink, chinchillas and other animals spend their lives in wire cages, only to be killed by anal electrocution, by neck-breaking or in gas chambers. Raccoon dogs suffer and die for their fur in intensive confinement operations, and their fur is widely misrepresented as fake fur or as a different species. Fur products are commonly not labeled at all.

J. Considering the wide array of alternatives for fashion and apparel, the City Council finds that the demand for fur products does not justify the torture and confinement of animals.

K. The City Council believes that eliminating the sale of fur products will promote community awareness of animal welfare and, in turn, will foster a consciousness about the way we live in the world and create a more humane environment in the City of Berkeley.

L. The City Council finds that the sale of fur products in the City of Berkeley is inconsistent with the City’s goal of being a community that cares about animal welfare.

M. The City Council believes that eliminating the sale of fur products will promote community awareness of animal welfare and, in turn, will foster a more humane environment in the City.

N. The City Council enacts this ordinance pursuant to the authority vested in the City by Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution allowing a city to make and enforce within its limits all local police, sanitary and other regulations not in conflict with general laws. (Ord. 7539-NS § 1 (part), 2017)