Results tagged “pet laws” from South Bay Pets

When it comes to efforts to spay and neuter Los Angeles pets, the city is falling short, according to a new audit released by Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick. Reporter Kerry Cavanaugh writes about it in today's Los Angeles Daily News and Daily Breeze:

Six months after the Los Angeles City Council and mayor passed an ordinance requiring owners to spay or neuter their pets, the city has done little to educate the public on the new rule -- and will likely rely on voluntary compliance, according to an audit released Tuesday.

Los Angeles is the largest city in the nation to enact such a strict spay-and-neuter ordinance. The law takes effect in October and requires owners to fix pets 4 months old or older.

Animal Services General Manager Ed Boks says lack of funding is a problem.

"This ordinance is an unfunded mandate for the department," Boks told the Daily News. "It comes at a time when the department sustained 15 percent budget cuts this year and we're facing the layoffs of some 27 employees."

Public service announcements are being prepared, he said, and the department will enforce the ordinance once it takes effect Oct. 1.

The city's Animal Services web site provides more information about the new law along with resources to find low-cost spay and neuter clinics.

A committee of the Dallas, Texas, City Council was scheduled today to take up new pet ownership rules, including mandatory spay/neuter (unless breeders apply for permits), limits on the number of pets that can be owned, stricter dangerous dog language and a ban on tethering.

Many of these issues have been addressed by our local animal control departments as well. The problem comes with enforcement.

Most people never license their animals and animal control workers typically don't have the manpower to go door to door to find them. The American Kennel Club is tracking the issue.