The Antelope Valley Times

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Pet compliance checks in AV next week

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animal control canvassingLOS ANGELES – Officers from the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control will be conducting compliance checks in the Antelope Valley beginning Friday, March 25.

Field enforcement efforts will target the unincorporated areas of Lancaster (zip code 93536), Palmdale (zip codes 93550, 93551 and 93552), Lake Hughes, and  Elizabeth Lake (zip code  93552).

The checks are designed to ensure that residents’ dogs and cats are in compliance with mandatory licensing requirements, spay/neuter, and microchipping.

California law requires that all dogs over the age of four months be vaccinated against rabies and licensed. Los Angeles County requires the same for all cats. As of Jan. 1, 2014, puppies may be vaccinated at three months but are not required to be vaccinated until four months of age.

Pet owners must be in compliance with licensing, spay/neuter, and microchipping requirements if they live in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County or in cities that contract with L.A. County that have adopted the county’s Title 10 ordinance.

Residents not in compliance will be subject to license fees, delinquency charges, and a $40 field enforcement fee to offset the cost of the Department’s field services.

Residents can secure a pet license by printing the application online at www.animalcare.lacounty.gov or by visiting a local County animal care center. Residents may also renew their pet license online if it is not delinquent.

Information on licensing fees, low-cost vaccination/microchips clinics,  and low-cost assistance for spay and neuter surgeries can be found at www.animalcare.lacounty.gov.

[Information via news release from Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control.]

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40 comments for "Pet compliance checks in AV next week"

  1. So basically the only time the government runs efficiently is when they want $$$$. My dogs are 12 & 10. One is on her last leg and isn’t gonna make it much longer. And my husband is on disability so we can’t afford the fees. It’s like $120 per dog. What do we do? Now we’re gonna get cited and have to appear in court? Really??? What a joke!!!

    • I’ll bet you don’t have a registration or insurance on your vehicle. With that mentality it should be ok since the car is not new. Dog licensing is not new. There are numerous organizations that will assist people who are financially strapped. You obviously have access to the internet. Try searching for organizations that can assist. Where is it that you pay $120 per dog.

    • I just renewed my dog’s license and if they are fixed then it is only $20 – at least for Lancaster/Palmdale area. There are additional costs is they are not fixed, acquire a late fee or are late in registering your dog.

  2. See residents like you or the ones that complain about barking dogs or loose animals should go into your homes, lock your doors and stop complaining when AC comes around. And if you’re in compliance then you should not worry about them knocking on your door. Everybody wants something done about something, but never want to do whats right when it comes to themselves…ijs…sad situation.

  4. I went to the animal shelter today and there is a lady from the Lange foundation who will give you a voucher to help pay for you to get your pets spayed or neutered for$50.00
    .Pets r us in Palmdale will do the vaccinations for $10.00 a shot ,they also will microchip for $38.00.If your pet is spayed or neutered you can register your dog for $20.00 instead of $60.00

  5. Man this sucks! Where can people go for low cost licencing, vaccinations, n microchipping? I wish the city would pay more attention to the gangs that I’m seeing more n more of out here! It’s like really? Ur gonna go house to house for illegal pets?? Why don’t you go out n find the guys who are out robbing innocent people instead of looking for unlicensed animals?

    • You DO know that licenses are handled by LA COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL, right? Not the cops. Not the cities of Palmdale or Lancaster. Animal control officials are not cops. They have NOTHING to do with arresting robbers or gang members! Education people!

      • Here’s some education for you. Both cities contract with LA County Animal Control, just like both cities contract with the sheriff’s department. Of course that doesn’t fit your self righteous ranting about how you are better educated.

    • If you are too irresponsible to have your pets spayed/neutered and given the proper shots, you shouldn’t have pets.

  6. I rescued pit bulls that Rex wanted to kill. They are loving dogs and nothing like Rex has wanted to exterminate. U am afraid Rex will send his people to kill my dogs. What should I do?

  8. they need to be checking on the ones that are abused and neglected. That is the biggest problem here. It is so sad to see this. If you can’t/won’t take care of them than why have them?

  9. First if you have dogs or cats that are not licensed: go to AC before 25th and license up to max..3 dogs lancaster, 2 dogs palmdale , 5 cats….. If you have more just only allow licensed amount in view or hearing. THEN your house will be bypassed most likely as in compliance.

    BUT if AC comes to your door… Id advise NOT answering, then taking doorknocker to AC to comply at minimum at least so they dont come back.

    IF you gey caught by being in front yard or they se you… THEN dtep on your front porch. LOCK your door. and discuss with them and take tickets. Nicely tell them you will address.

    THEY have power but cannot enter through a locked door or gate. AND YES, all my gates are locked always. mostly to avoid theft or nuisience but works for AC too.

  10. What if I am never home or since they don’t have a warrant I do not allow them access to my home?

    • It’s an interesting question, because they can’t really insist that you PROVE that you don’t have a dog. However…

      If they can OBSERVE from off property that you do indeed have a dog, AND they can verify through their records that no licensed dog is registered to the property I would guess they could cite you for having an unlicensed dog.

      Suggestion…get a friend from Kern County to hang out at your pad. When the dog police come around they can politely say “these are my dogs and I am just visiting” and then produce ID with a Kern County address. End of problem.

  11. Chip for dogs, I can buy into that since they roam far.
    Shots up to date, you betcha!
    Number of pets, well I understand they are trying to prevent puppy mills and crowded housing conditions but I live on a decent size parcel of land and they get trips to the vets office.
    Cats chipped? Even my vet is against it in general.

    If you can not afford the license fees and shots then in my opinion you can not afford the pet.

    • How about you take the money you would spend on bureaucracy (licenses and microchips) and spend it actually on your pets, food, toys, and vet care when needed?

      • The fees charged go to employ the workers at the pounds, who also respond to hit animals on the road when called (wish there were more trucks though since it takes awhile) and the fees also pay for the buildings so lost pets can be found or rehomed.
        You may not have lost a pet but I have and later was able to retrieve my pup thanks to a strangers kindness for catching them and the pound being able to call me due to a paid license and chip.

  13. My only issue is that in some areas of Palmdale only 2 dogs are allowed, where as every other place in LA county allows 3. And when you move to Palmdale no one tells you that. Otherwise this is something that use to happen every few years.

  15. Just hide your animals when they come to the door, and tell them they have no right to come in. It shouldn’t just be in the unincorporated areas only, that’s just ridiculous!

  16. again…..does anyone wanna tell me why its just in the unincorporated areas???THE PEOPLE OF THE ANTELOPE VALLEY ARE NOTHING BUT A SOURCE OF INCOME TO THE LACO BoS. 1) BAN all cultivation, lying to the people saying it was done to “study the effects of growing claiming gang violence, when the real issue was to ENSURE THEIR “CUT” IN TAX MONEY- 2 days later action found unconstitutional denying the rights of cannabis patients ….THE PUBLIC WAS NEVER INFORMED. 2) FORM ANOTHER TERRORIST SQUAD, made of the exact elements as the NUISANCE ABATEMENT TASK FORCE (NATF), LACO DIST ATTY, LACO ZONING and CODE ENFORCEMENT, LASD STORMTROOPERS W MACHINEGUNS. this is the SAME EXACT THING as what the LASD was SUED FOR and cost US taxpayers MILLIONS, for what…weed? LETS SEE HOW MANY LAW ABIDING AV TAXPAYERS are turned into criminals when we show up in bias AV courts and they want a “plea bargain”…for weed? NOW THE DISTURBANCE of searching our homes for unlicensed dogs…..There is a NEW phrase being used MORE AND MORE and it gains more popularity each and everyday, it is simple…..ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! It is time the people of the AV THINK ABOUT WHAT GOES ON HERE IN THE AV. The AV pays its taxes but it seems it is only the incorporated cities that receive adequate county services. BUT for the small towns…NOTHING. OUR POLICE COVERAGE OUT HERE IS WORTHLESS. OUR FIRE COVERAGE ROLLS OUT 1 MAN SHORT AT ALL TIMES and we even pay an assessment for “enhanced medical service” lol…we are assessed for SEWER WHEN THERE IS NO SEWER? look at how we have to walk on our streets as dark as the grave. JUST THE OTHER DAY A DISABLED MAN W A WALKER WAS RUN OVER AND KILLED IN LLA BECAUSE ITS SO DARK HERE. The people of the AV need to WAKE UP and DUMP the worthless politicians WHO HAVE DONE NOTHING OTHER THAN GROWN RICH AND FAT OFF OUR TAX DOLLARS. i can imagine Antonovitch has at his fingertips a Lear jet and stretch limo w a wet bar and we’ve all seen the HUGE HELO that flies in Starbucks for him and his rock star entourage, i imagine he lives in ONE OF SEVERAL MULTI MILLION HOMES and no doubt an olympic sized swimming pool at each one WHILE THE CHILDREN OF LAKE LOS ANGELES GET TO SPLASH AROUND IN RECYCLED WATER, why doesn’t anybody ask where the community swimming pool for our town is at after we have been paid over $10,500,000 for a kiddie park where we cant even have a little league team or play soccer? THE AV IS NOT ASKING QUESTIONS, THE AV IS NOT DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY – THE AV IS NOT VOTING – SO WE THE PEOPLE OF THE AV ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF! WE NEED TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO AND VOTE THE WORTHLESS REPRESENTATION WE HAVE NOW – OUT OF OFFICE – ANTONOVITCH AND ALL OF HIS CRONIES MUST GO.

    • I’m assuming it’s because the county is paying for it. The cities have their own contracts with ACC and compliance checks are probably and extra fee that they may or may not be paying for.