News
Dog Licensing Enforcers Unleashed in Long Beach
February 20, 2009, 7:45PM MT
By Sandi Cain
Door-to-door campaign encourages compliance
Door-to-door campaign encourages compliance
By Christine Noble, Best Friends Network Volunteer
California residents have long been familiar with the consequences of letting their car registration tags expire. Now residents with dogs in Long Beach face a similar fate.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Long Beach officials found that about half the 70,000 dogs in its coverage area that also includes Cerritos and Seal Beach were not licensed. So authorities are in action to close that gap.
Animal control officers, armed with a computer that shows previously licensed dogs, are going door-to-door looking for furry scofflaws. And even though there are myriad excuses from the forgetful humans in the canine homes, they are mostly receiving positive feedback for the program.
“Most people are giving good feedback,” said John Keisler, manager of Animal Care Services. The majority of the people they contact seem to understand that this enforcement is for the safety of their animals. Licensing also can help pet owners be reunited with their animals in an emergency.
Rabies vaccinations also are required, and dog ‘parents’ are asked for proof. If a pet owner is not compliant with either the rabies vaccination or the license, they are in “two violations and both are citable,” warns Keisler. Rabies vaccinations help keep both dogs and people safe.
Even though animal control is enforcing these laws, they are trying to work with pet owners as best they can. If you receive a knock on your door and you are not in compliance, you may remedy the situation at that moment by filling out a dog license application. If a pet owner is unable to comply at that moment, he or she will be given a warning and then will be subject to a citation.
The city of Long Beach requires dogs four months and older to receive a rabies vaccination and be licensed. Licenses are $19 for dogs that are altered and $91 for unaltered dogs.
Canvassing the neighborhood is also going on in other cities outside the Long Beach areas Long Beach Animal Care Services Bureau will be collaborating with Los Angeles Animal Control in making sure all dogs are up to date to establishes safety for both dogs and people.
For more information: Call Long Beach Animal Control at (562) 570-7387 or click here.
Photo of Ellie in Alaska, courtesy of Christine Noble