Officials Push For Mandatory Spay/Neuter Law For Long Beach Pet Owners
LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — The city of Long Beach is poised to start cracking down on its dog and cat population.
KNX 1070's Bob Brill reports the City Council is considering a new law that would make it mandatory for owners to spay or neuter their pets with only a limited number of exceptions.
After impounding more than 4,000 dogs last year alone - about roughly 12 dogs a day - Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal and other city officials are pushing for a Mandatory Spay & Neuter Ordinance, which would be enforced through administrative citations and license canvassing.
The ordinance (PDF) would also prohibit pet stores from selling locally bred dogs, cats and rabbits unless they were bred on site or came from a shelter.
Only dog and cat owners who possess a medical exclusion or breeding permit would be exempted from the measure.
Lowenthal said the proposed law could benefit the city in a number of ways.
"The motion's intended to reduce pet overpopulation,which we all know leads to euthanasia," she said. "It helps public safety with less dogs on the street and cuts down on taxpayers costs as we move from being reactive to proactive."
If approved, the motion would require the City Manager and City Attorney to return with a draft ordinance in 90 days.