The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

Pet compliance checks in Palmdale

by •

animal control canvassingPALMDALE – Officers from the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) will be conducting field licensing enforcement in Palmdale on Wednesday, Oct. 19, to ensure that dogs and cats are in compliance with mandatory licensing requirements.

“The city of Palmdale contracts with the County of Los Angeles for animal care and control services,” stated Community Safety Supervisor Kelly Long. “As part of this contract, uniformed officers from the DACC will be at work in our city, making sure dogs and cats are licensed as required by law. Both state law and the municipal code require that dogs over the age of four months be licensed and have a current rabies vaccination. The County of Los Angeles officers will be canvassing the city of Palmdale to remind pet owners of these requirements and to facilitate the licensing of unregistered dogs.”

California law requires that all dogs over the age of four months be vaccinated against rabies and licensed. As of Jan. 1, 2014, puppies may be vaccinated at three months but are not required to be vaccinated until four months of age. Securing a dog or cat license is essential to assisting animal control agencies if a pet becomes lost.

“We ask that you cooperate with these officers as they are carrying out their legally assigned duties to ensure that dogs are licensed as required by law,” said Long. “If you are not at home when an officer from the DACC visits your home, he or she will leave a call back notice. If you do not have a dog, of course you do not have to purchase a license. If your pet already has a current license, you have the option of renewing your license through the officer who visits your house. If your pet is not licensed, you are required by the State of California to obtain one.”

Residents may obtain a new license by printing the application online at www.animalcare.lacounty.gov and mailing it to Enforcement Services (Licensing) Bureau, 12440 East Imperial Highway, 6th Floor, Norwalk, CA 90650, or by visiting the  Palmdale Animal Care Center, located at 38550 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 93550.  

Residents may also renew online if their pet’s license is not delinquent at the DACC website at  www.animalcare.lacounty.gov.

Pet owners who are not in compliance with the law will be subject to license fees, a delinquency charge equivalent to the license fee, and a $40 field enforcement fee. 

“We’re encouraging residents to make sure they have their pets licensed before an animal care office comes to their door,” said Long. “This will ensure that they are not subject to the $40 field enforcement fee and possible delinquency charges.”

“One reason the city of Palmdale is such an attractive and desirable community is because our community supports the principles of responsible pet ownership, which includes enforcement of the leash law to prevent animals from running at large,” Long said. “Your cooperation with the DACC officers will assist us in maintaining the quality of life we enjoy.”

The DACC also offers low-cost vaccination/microchips clinics (microchips are now $15, which includes an AVID registration) and low-cost assistance (for individuals who qualify) for spay and neuter surgeries.

For more information about these services, visit www.animalcare.lacounty.gov, call the DACC at 562-685-2019 or stop by the Palmdale Animal Care Center at 38550 Sierra Highway.

[Information via news release from the city of Palmdale.]

–

Filed Under: Palmdale

20 comments for "Pet compliance checks in Palmdale"

  1. So how does this work with strays? My neighborhood is overrun with a bunch of stray cats. We have a shed in the backyard that the cats love to have their babies in every now and then. How would I be able to prove they aren’t my pets?

    Seems like a lot of potential issues here that will wind up benefitting the city more at the expense of us regular folks.

  2. I wish they would send a paper license after we pay like they did years ago. It had all the info on payment and rabies current expiration with dog information. If their list doesn’t show we paid, we have no way of proving it on the spot. And, hiding your dogs may not work.. lol. They asked my neighbor if I had dogs and how many and what type/color etc.

  3. In Rexville, pit bulls are exterminated by a fringe, whacked mayor who wouldn’t know middle ground if he was standing in it.

  4. The AV wants an excuse to collect $$. What if you don’t open the door, are they going to knock the door down? lol

    • They will leave a notice to pay with in two or three days when they come back, and they will, if no payment is made you get a nice ticket to appear in court, your 80 dollar fee turns into a few hundred, you can say you dont have the dog or cat anymore, but the judge wants proof, bill of sale, etc. I was fined two years ago for a dog that passed away, I didn’t have a vet bill or note, and paid the price.if they show up at your door, the fee is more for a handling fee, hide your dog in Lancaster or just run to the pound before Saturday to pay.

      • This is why people end up leaving their pets in the Desert. I never understood why some one would do that until now. Not that I agree with it but now i understand the why.

      • When my dog passed I just called County Animal Control the day I got my sad reminder (tag bill) and told them the date my dog died on. The clerk was very nice and marked the pup as deceased in the system.
        Of course I had a clear record of paying my tags.

    • To pay for animal control services to pick the animals not well cared for, or that escape when some dummy tries to get in your yard/house, etc.

  6. Uh… Isn’t probable cause required to enter private property when investigating a violation of the law?

    • Walking up to your door is not considered trespassing unless you have a locked gate and they break the lock. Generally speaking law enforcement and other civil employees have the right to walk onto your open property during the normal execution of their job functions. All an animal control officer has to say is that they heard/seen a dog or cat and that is sufficient reason for them to investigate.

      They also have the right to enter a locked gate if they feel there are exigent circumstances, just like the police. If they see a sick or injured or otherwise mistreated pet, they can do what is needed to help that animal.

    • If you see or hear a dog or cat that seems like probable cause enough. And if you aren’t the home owner so if you rent or on section 8/housing assistance you don’t have the same rights.

      People need to obey the law when it comes to animals and everything else. If you don’t then they should take your animals and fine you, period.

    • I was told by a deputy that animal control is not law enforcement, you can tell them too leave, but they will just come back with a deputy. Just hide your dogs and cats in Lancaster , but remember to remove all evidence of animals they will look over your fence.

      • Or just pay the tag fee and be a legally participating citizen. After all the fees provide jobs in the community, help to rescue (even for a short time) lost pets, also pays for removal of dead animals from roads and parks and such.

    • I was told by a deputy that animal control is not law enforcement, so you can request them to leave your property, but they will be back this time with the sheriff, my advice is hide your animals in Lancaster till next Wednesday, they will be making trips back to homes that they find in violation, too collect payments and or leave tickets. if they see your dog during there return trips, they will leave you a notice too pay. So remember to hide all water and feed pans, they will be looking over your fence and asking your neighbors.