Council File: 07-1212
Title
MANDATE SPAYING AND NEUTERING / CATS AND DOGS / FOUR MONTHS OLD
Subject
Motion - Each year, almost 50,000 unwanted and abandoned cats and dogs are born in the City of Los Angeles. Left un-spayed and un-neutered, these animals propagate far beyond the capacity of the local shelters, animal rescue groups and the community to accommodate them. Shelters are often forced to euthanize young and healthy animals to make room for more; puppies and kittens are euthanized at the highest rate, twice as many cats than dogs. The financial cost to taxpayers, and the emotional toll suffered by shelter employees and the communities who take care of these animals are extremely high.
The California State Legislature is currently considering AB 1634 (Levine) also known as the "California Healthy Pets Act 2007" requiring the spaying and neutering of most cats and dogs by the time the pet is four months old. Pet owners who have not spayed or neutered their pet would be cited and given time to spay or neuter their pets before a fine would be assessed. Local animal control agencies would be responsible for enforcing the California Healthy Pets Act. A portion of the fines collected would be used to expand the availability of free or low cost-spay or neuter programs and other outreach efforts.
The City Council, on April 17, 2007 adopted a resolution in support of AB 1634. However, the City should not wait for Sacramento to act on the pending legislation and instead should take a more proactive stance by adopting an ordinance with the provisions of the California Healthy Pets Act customized for Los Angeles.
Currently, the City of Los Angeles Animal Services Department maintains a budget of $22 million and it is estimated that $12 million of that money is used by pets that end up dying. The Department also offers $2.2 million in vouchers for spaying and neutering services for low income pet owners.
THEREFORE MOVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, instruct the Los Angeles Animals Services Department, to submit a proposed ordinance that would mandate the spaying and neutering of domestic cats and dogs by the time the pet is four months old, with specific exceptions for licensed breeders. The proposed ordinance should be consistent with provisions of AB 1634 but adapted to the specific needs of Los Angeles, including an expanded program to assist pet owners earning less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level spay and neuter their pets.
REFER TO COUNCIL FILE 07-0002-S65
Date Received / Introduced
04/18/2007
Last Changed Date
07/02/2008
Mover/Seconder Comment
Alarcon / Cardenas Mover Hahn for Wesson, Jr.
File History
4-18-07 - This day's Council session
4-18-07 - Ref to Public Safety Committee
4-18-07 - File to Public Safety Committee Clerk
5-9-07 - Council Action - Continued to May 11, 2007
5-11-07 - Council Action - Motion ADOPTED (Public Safety Committee waived consideration of the above matter)
5-16-07 - File in files
6-18-07 - For ref - Communication from the Department of Animal Services, dated June 12, 2007, relative to directing the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance amending the LAMC to mandate the spaying and neutering of domestic cats, dogs, and rabbits by the time the pet is four months old, with specific exception for licensed breeders, to be consistent with the provisions of Assembly Bill 1634 but adapted to the specific needs of Los Angeles.
6-20-07 - Ref to Public Safety Committee
6-20-07 - File to Public Safety Committee Clerk
7-30-07 - For ref - Communication from the Department of Animal Services, dated July 26, 2007, relative to directing the City Attorney to draft an ordinance amending the LAMC Section 53.00, et. seq., to allow the Department of Animal Services to spay or neuter any animals taken in or subject to enforcement and to require microchipping of any animal to obtain a valid breeding permit and to strengthen breeding and transfer regulation, and other related enabling modifications.
7-31-07 - Ref to Public Safety Committee - to Committee Clerk
8-21-07 - Communication from Dr. Patty Boge, Narbonne Animal Clinic, dated August 15, 2007, relative to the mandatory spay/neuter law, is attached to Council file.
8-14-07 - Council Action - Referred to Public Safety Committee
8-24-07 - File to Public Safety Committee Clerk
12-21-07 - For ref - Transmittal from the Mayor of the Department of Animal Services report, dated November 26, 2007, relative to drafting an ordinance amending the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) 53.15.2 to add a required animal transfer permit and related regulations.
12-26-07 - Ref to Public Safety Committee - to Committee Clerk
1-24-08 - For ref - Communication from Councilmember Richard Alarcon, dated January 24, 2008, relative to the strong support of the ordinance which Mandates the Spaying and Neutering of Domestic Cats and Dogs.
1-24-08 - Ref to Public Safety Committee - to Committee Clerk
1-28-08 - Speaker cards, dated January 28, 2008, submitted in Public Safety Committee - attached to file.
1-28-08 - Communication from Animal Services Department, dated January 28, 2008, submitted in Public Safety Committee - attached to file.
1-28-08 - Communication from the City Attorney, dated January 28, 2008, submitted in Public Safety Committee - attached to file.
1-30-08 - For ref - Communication from the City Attorney R08-0028, dated January 29, 2008, relative to a draft ordinance amending Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 53.15.2 (b) by adding new Subdivisions (2) through (8), which would require all dogs and cats in the City of Los Angeles over four months of age to be spayed or neutered unless exempted as provided in the ordinance.
1-31-08 - Communications from the public, dated January 31, 2008, relative to the mandatory spay/neuter/micro-chipping of pet dogs and cats - attached to file.
1-31-08 - Communications from the public, dated January 31, 2008, relative to the mandatory spay/neuter/micro-chipping of pet dogs and cats - attached to file.
1-31-08 - Communications from the public, dated January 31, 2008, relative to the Spay/Neuter Ordinance - attached to file.
1-31-08 - Ref to Public Safety Committee - to Committee Clerk
2-1-08 - Council Action - Public Safety Committee Report ADOPTED
2-1-08 - Council Action - Verbal Motion - Alarcon Mover 2008 / Smith - ADOPTED - Ordinance over one week to FEBRUARY 8, 2008
2-1-08 - Communication from the public, dated February 1, 2008, relative to the Spay/Neuter Ordinance - attached to file.
2-5-08 - Communication from the public, dated February 1, 2008, relative to the Spay/Neuter Ordinance - attached to file.
2-6-08 - Communication from the public, dated February 6, 2008, relative to the Spay/Neuter Ordinance - attached to file
2-8-08 - Council Action - CONTINUED to FEBRUARY 12, 2008
2-12-08 - Council Action - Ordinance ADOPTED
2-13-08 - File to Mayor for signature
2-28-08 - File to Council and Legislative Processing Clerk
2-29-08 - File to Public Safety Committee Committee Clerk OK
3-3-08 - File in files
4-18-07 - Ref to Public Safety Committee
4-18-07 - File to Public Safety Committee Clerk
5-9-07 - Council Action - Continued to May 11, 2007
5-11-07 - Council Action - Motion ADOPTED (Public Safety Committee waived consideration of the above matter)
5-16-07 - File in files
6-18-07 - For ref - Communication from the Department of Animal Services, dated June 12, 2007, relative to directing the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance amending the LAMC to mandate the spaying and neutering of domestic cats, dogs, and rabbits by the time the pet is four months old, with specific exception for licensed breeders, to be consistent with the provisions of Assembly Bill 1634 but adapted to the specific needs of Los Angeles.
6-20-07 - Ref to Public Safety Committee
6-20-07 - File to Public Safety Committee Clerk
7-30-07 - For ref - Communication from the Department of Animal Services, dated July 26, 2007, relative to directing the City Attorney to draft an ordinance amending the LAMC Section 53.00, et. seq., to allow the Department of Animal Services to spay or neuter any animals taken in or subject to enforcement and to require microchipping of any animal to obtain a valid breeding permit and to strengthen breeding and transfer regulation, and other related enabling modifications.
7-31-07 - Ref to Public Safety Committee - to Committee Clerk
8-21-07 - Communication from Dr. Patty Boge, Narbonne Animal Clinic, dated August 15, 2007, relative to the mandatory spay/neuter law, is attached to Council file.
8-14-07 - Council Action - Referred to Public Safety Committee
8-24-07 - File to Public Safety Committee Clerk
12-21-07 - For ref - Transmittal from the Mayor of the Department of Animal Services report, dated November 26, 2007, relative to drafting an ordinance amending the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) 53.15.2 to add a required animal transfer permit and related regulations.
12-26-07 - Ref to Public Safety Committee - to Committee Clerk
1-24-08 - For ref - Communication from Councilmember Richard Alarcon, dated January 24, 2008, relative to the strong support of the ordinance which Mandates the Spaying and Neutering of Domestic Cats and Dogs.
1-24-08 - Ref to Public Safety Committee - to Committee Clerk
1-28-08 - Speaker cards, dated January 28, 2008, submitted in Public Safety Committee - attached to file.
1-28-08 - Communication from Animal Services Department, dated January 28, 2008, submitted in Public Safety Committee - attached to file.
1-28-08 - Communication from the City Attorney, dated January 28, 2008, submitted in Public Safety Committee - attached to file.
1-30-08 - For ref - Communication from the City Attorney R08-0028, dated January 29, 2008, relative to a draft ordinance amending Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 53.15.2 (b) by adding new Subdivisions (2) through (8), which would require all dogs and cats in the City of Los Angeles over four months of age to be spayed or neutered unless exempted as provided in the ordinance.
1-31-08 - Communications from the public, dated January 31, 2008, relative to the mandatory spay/neuter/micro-chipping of pet dogs and cats - attached to file.
1-31-08 - Communications from the public, dated January 31, 2008, relative to the mandatory spay/neuter/micro-chipping of pet dogs and cats - attached to file.
1-31-08 - Communications from the public, dated January 31, 2008, relative to the Spay/Neuter Ordinance - attached to file.
1-31-08 - Ref to Public Safety Committee - to Committee Clerk
2-1-08 - Council Action - Public Safety Committee Report ADOPTED
2-1-08 - Council Action - Verbal Motion - Alarcon Mover 2008 / Smith - ADOPTED - Ordinance over one week to FEBRUARY 8, 2008
2-1-08 - Communication from the public, dated February 1, 2008, relative to the Spay/Neuter Ordinance - attached to file.
2-5-08 - Communication from the public, dated February 1, 2008, relative to the Spay/Neuter Ordinance - attached to file.
2-6-08 - Communication from the public, dated February 6, 2008, relative to the Spay/Neuter Ordinance - attached to file
2-8-08 - Council Action - CONTINUED to FEBRUARY 12, 2008
2-12-08 - Council Action - Ordinance ADOPTED
2-13-08 - File to Mayor for signature
2-28-08 - File to Council and Legislative Processing Clerk
2-29-08 - File to Public Safety Committee Committee Clerk OK
3-3-08 - File in files
Online Documents (Doc)
| Title | Doc Date |
|---|
| Communication(s) from Public | 10/25/2022 |
| Final Ordinance No. 179615 | 04/08/2008 |
| Communication from the Public | 02/06/2008 |
| Communications from Public | 02/01/2008 |
| Council Action | 02/01/2008 |
| Communication from the Public | 01/31/2008 |
| Communication from the Public | 01/31/2008 |
| Communication from the Public | 01/30/2008 |
| Report from City Attorney | 01/29/2008 |
| Report from City Attorney | 01/28/2008 |
| Report from Los Angeles Animal Services | 01/28/2008 |
| Speaker Cards | 01/28/2008 |
| Report from Council Members | 01/24/2008 |
| Report from Los Angeles Animal Services | 11/26/2007 |
| Communication from Dr. Patty Boge, Narbonne Animal Clinic | 08/15/2007 |
| Council Action | 08/14/2007 |
| Report from Los Angeles Animal Services | 07/26/2007 |
| Report from Los Angeles Animal Services | 06/12/2007 |
| Council Action | 05/22/2007 |
| Motion | 04/18/2007 |
Council Vote Information (10 Votes)
|
Council Vote Information (10 Votes) | |
| Meeting Date: | 02/12/2008 |
| Meeting Type: | Regular |
| Vote Action: | Adopted |
| Vote Given: | (14 - 1 - 0) |
| Member Name | CD | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| RICHARD ALARCON | 7 | YES |
| TONY CARDENAS | 6 | YES |
| ERIC GARCETTI | 13 | YES |
| WENDY GREUEL | 2 | YES |
| JANICE HAHN | 15 | YES |
| JOSE HUIZAR | 14 | YES |
| TOM LABONGE | 4 | YES |
| BERNARD C PARKS | 8 | YES |
| JAN PERRY | 9 | YES |
| ED REYES | 1 | YES |
| BILL ROSENDAHL | 11 | NO |
| GREIG SMITH | 12 | YES |
| JACK WEISS | 5 | YES |
| HERB WESSON | 10 | YES |
| DENNIS ZINE | 3 | YES |