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Residents urge Palm Desert to keep council member on animal commission, seek backyard‑breeding ordinance
Summary
Speakers at the meeting praised Council Member Karina Quintanilla's work on animal‑welfare issues, urged her continued appointment to a regional animal services commission and asked staff to prepare a backyard‑breeding ban ordinance.
Multiple animal‑welfare advocates addressed the council on Jan. 9 to support Council Member Karina Quintanilla's continued participation on the Coachella Valley Animal Campus Commission and to urge local action on backyard breeding ordinances.
Lisa Blodgett said Quintanilla "is the only member who has stood up for the animals and the community" and asked the council to keep her as the city's representative on the county commission. Tiffany Labou, who said she has assisted other cities with similar measures, urged the council to direct code enforcement and staff to consider a "backyard breeding ban" ordinance to curb unregulated sales and reduce shelter overpopulation.
Why it matters: speakers said stronger local ordinances and consistent city representation on regional bodies could reduce intake and euthanasia rates at county shelters and improve oversight. Labou requested a staff meeting with code compliance to explore drafting an ordinance for council consideration.
Council response: Council members acknowledged the testimony and discussed the current appointment process. The council later approved the slate of liaison and subcommittee assignments (motion passed 5‑0) and did not remove Quintanilla from regional representation; several speakers requested the council agendize a backyard‑breeding ordinance for follow‑up with staff.
Next steps: Staff were asked to connect advocates with code compliance and explore placing a backyard‑breeding ordinance on a future agenda.
