jlnlisa
06-05-2006, 05:26 PM
Here is the ordinance that ACF is suing LA County and San Francisco County about. It is now a LAW effective June 1 and has ONLY a 90 day grace period. Everyone can help by sending a donation to the ACF at the address in my post below.
Riverside County Folks--Beware they are considering your county next! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-chainsaw-left.gif
LA County Releases Details of Mandatory Spay/Neuter Proposal
The Los Angeles County Animal Board of Supervisors will meet April 18th to
discuss their proposal to require all dogs to be spayed or neutered unless their owner
purchases a $60 intact animal license (currently $30) and meets the stringent criteria
established by the county. The measure further requires all dogs, whether sterilized or
intact, to be microchipped and increases the fee to license a sterilized animal from $15
to $20. A first violation will result in a fine not to exceed $250 and a second violation
is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail and/or a fine up to $1,000.
To be eligible for an unaltered dog license, a dog must be a law
enforcement dog, a qualified service/assistance animal or a "competition dog." A "competition
dog" must be registered with the AKC, UKC, ADBA or other valid registry approved by the
Animal Care and Control department. Competition dogs must also meet one of the
following requirements:
The dog has competed in at least one dog show or sporting competition in
the past year. The dog has earned a conformation, obedience, agility, carting, herding,
protection, rally, sporting, working or other title from a purebred registry as recognized by
Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control. The owner is a member of a purebred dog breed club,
approved by the county which maintains and enforces a code of ethics that includes restrictions from
breeding dogs with genetic defects and life threatening health problems that commonly
threaten the breed. Breeders are required to notify the animal control department within
thirty days of a litter being whelped and must provide the name, address and telephone number of
the new owner. A license can be revoked or denied by the department for any of the
following; upon receipt of one sworn complaint, if the owner has been cited for any
violation of a state or local animal control law, or if the dog is deemed dangerous. Owners whose
applications are denied or whose license is revoked are entitled to a hearing, which
would be conducted by a hearing officer appointed by the animal control department.
The American Kennel Club encourages pet owners to spay or neuter their
dogs if they do not want to participate in AKC conformation events or engage in
responsible breeding programs. Through our public education department we support programs
dedicated to educating the pet buying public on how to find a responsible breeder and
how to make well-informed decisions when obtaining a dog. Such programs help to ensure
that pet purchasers find a puppy or dog that is a good fit for their lifestyle, at
an appropriate time in their lives, thereby increasing the likelihood that the animal will
stay with the owners its entire life.
These methods, coupled with strongly enforced animal control laws (such as
leash laws) and increased public education efforts are the most effective ways to
address irresponsible dog owners while at the same time reducing shelter numbers and improving
public safety. To the contrary, mandatory spay/neuter ordinances are extremely difficult
to enforce, can be evaded by irresponsible animal owners, and punish responsible breeders
who raise purebred dogs for their enjoyment of the sport. They also negatively
impact owners who keep intact animals not to breed, but to participate in conformation and
performance events.
**This is also posted in the dog forum**
Riverside County Folks--Beware they are considering your county next! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-chainsaw-left.gif
LA County Releases Details of Mandatory Spay/Neuter Proposal
The Los Angeles County Animal Board of Supervisors will meet April 18th to
discuss their proposal to require all dogs to be spayed or neutered unless their owner
purchases a $60 intact animal license (currently $30) and meets the stringent criteria
established by the county. The measure further requires all dogs, whether sterilized or
intact, to be microchipped and increases the fee to license a sterilized animal from $15
to $20. A first violation will result in a fine not to exceed $250 and a second violation
is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail and/or a fine up to $1,000.
To be eligible for an unaltered dog license, a dog must be a law
enforcement dog, a qualified service/assistance animal or a "competition dog." A "competition
dog" must be registered with the AKC, UKC, ADBA or other valid registry approved by the
Animal Care and Control department. Competition dogs must also meet one of the
following requirements:
The dog has competed in at least one dog show or sporting competition in
the past year. The dog has earned a conformation, obedience, agility, carting, herding,
protection, rally, sporting, working or other title from a purebred registry as recognized by
Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control. The owner is a member of a purebred dog breed club,
approved by the county which maintains and enforces a code of ethics that includes restrictions from
breeding dogs with genetic defects and life threatening health problems that commonly
threaten the breed. Breeders are required to notify the animal control department within
thirty days of a litter being whelped and must provide the name, address and telephone number of
the new owner. A license can be revoked or denied by the department for any of the
following; upon receipt of one sworn complaint, if the owner has been cited for any
violation of a state or local animal control law, or if the dog is deemed dangerous. Owners whose
applications are denied or whose license is revoked are entitled to a hearing, which
would be conducted by a hearing officer appointed by the animal control department.
The American Kennel Club encourages pet owners to spay or neuter their
dogs if they do not want to participate in AKC conformation events or engage in
responsible breeding programs. Through our public education department we support programs
dedicated to educating the pet buying public on how to find a responsible breeder and
how to make well-informed decisions when obtaining a dog. Such programs help to ensure
that pet purchasers find a puppy or dog that is a good fit for their lifestyle, at
an appropriate time in their lives, thereby increasing the likelihood that the animal will
stay with the owners its entire life.
These methods, coupled with strongly enforced animal control laws (such as
leash laws) and increased public education efforts are the most effective ways to
address irresponsible dog owners while at the same time reducing shelter numbers and improving
public safety. To the contrary, mandatory spay/neuter ordinances are extremely difficult
to enforce, can be evaded by irresponsible animal owners, and punish responsible breeders
who raise purebred dogs for their enjoyment of the sport. They also negatively
impact owners who keep intact animals not to breed, but to participate in conformation and
performance events.
**This is also posted in the dog forum**