LA Council wants to increase pet owners’ awareness about animal laws

The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday asked the city attorney to prepare an ordinance that would require pet stores, veterinarians, dog parks and animal rescue organizations to display certain laws that apply to pet owners, as recommended by the Department of Animal Services.

Animal laws that would be posted include:

— cats and dogs are required to be spayed or neutered after the age of four months, with some exceptions;

— dogs are required to be licensed after four months old, and dog owners must show proof of spay/neuter and rabies vaccination to obtain a license at the cost of $20;

— dogs must be leashed when outside the owners’ properties or places of residence;

— dog owners are required to clean up after their dogs in public;

— dog owners are prohibited from tying their dogs to stationary objects for more than three hours in a 24-hour period, or deny them proper water or shelter for long periods of time;

— households are only allowed to have up to three dogs and three cats;

— pet owners cannot leave their pets unattended in vehicles if it is hot or cold or if there is poor ventilation or a lack of water that endangers the health of the animals;

— it is illegal to feed mammalian predators, including coyotes, foxes, possums, raccoons and skunks; and

— people who sell dogs or cats must have special permits from LA Animal Services, and selling animals on sidewalks is generally prohibited.

The city attorney will next draft the ordinance and send it to the City Council for approval. The ordinance will also need the mayor’s approval.

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