Guidelines
for the
Care & Treatment of
Animals in the City of Los Angeles
Following are basic guidelines
for the care and treatment of animals, including laws
as set forth in federal, state, county and City of Los
Angeles Municipal Code sections. This is not intended
as legal advice. Direct your specific questions regarding
laws to your local animal control agency.
LOST PETS
If you have lost a pet, go to all animal shelters in
your area at least every two days to look for your animal.
Post photos of your pet on the Shelter's "Lost
Pets" Board. Photos of lost pets are also posted
on the
Department of Animal Services' website: www.LAAnimalServices.com
FOUND PETS
If you find a lost pet, you must take it to an animal
shelter in the area so that the owner can locate and
claim it. YOU MAY NOT KEEP A PET YOU'VE FOUND WITHOUT
COMPLYING WITH LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCATING THE OWNER.
You must provide any pet you find with humane care,
including prompt veterinary care if it is injured or
ill, or take it to a shelter for immediate care.
LICENSING
The law requires a license for dogs and horses. An annual
license fee of $100 is charged for any unaltered dog.
( "Unaltered" means any dog that has not been
permanently, surgically or otherwise sterilized to render
it incapable of reproducing. ) An annual license fee
of $10 is charged for any altered ( permanently sterilized
/ surgically spayed / neutered ) dog. (LAMC 53.15) The
annual license fee for a horse is $14.
ID/LICENSE TAGS
Your dog is required to wear its license tag on a collar
or halter at all times. A
personal ID tag, clearly displaying the owner's phone
number is also advisable. BE SURE TO UPDATE LICENSE
INFORMATION
AND TAGS IF YOU MOVE OR IF YOUR PET IS ADOPTED TO ANOTHER
LOCATION. (Keep a current photo of your pet for ID purposes.)
(LAMC 53.21) Microchipping provides permanent pet ID
BREEDING
Anyone intentionally breeding or permitting dogs or
cats to reed/reproduce is subject to certain laws governing
this activity and must obtain an annual breeder's permit.
(LAMC 53.15.2)
RABIES CONTROL
Any dog over four (4) months of age is required to have
a current rabies vaccination. (LAMC 53.51) You must
be able to produce the documentation upon request. (LAMC
53.24)
LEASH LAW
Dogs must be kept on your own property unless under
the control of a competent person and restrained on
a leash
six feet or less in length. (LAMC 53.06.2)
SANITATION LAWS
Owners are responsible for immediately removing any
feces deposited by a dog on public or private property
(other than that of the dog owner). (LAMC 53.49) Animal
excrement (dog droppings) should be picked up daily
and deposited in a container to prevent attracting/
harboring flies. Such container should be removed from
the premises at least once every seven (7) days. (LA
County Code Sec. 11.30.070 & 11.16.030/11.16.050)
CARE & ATTENTION
Any animal neglected, abandoned or kept without food,
water or proper care and attention will be removed by
the Department o f Animal Services and the owner cited.
(LAMC 53.10)
FOOD & WATER
Pets must be provided with adequate food and water.
Water should be available at all times and should be
placed in an area where it will not become overheated
in the summer or frozen in the winter.
SHELTER
Dogs should be provided with a shelter covered on the
sides, including a roof and floor raised off the ground
adequately to prevent flooding by water during rain.
ABANDONMENT
It is a misdemeanor to abandon any animal in the State
of California. ANIMALS MAY NOT BE DUMPED (PERMANENTLY
LEFT) IN ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE AREAS NOR ON THE STREETS
OR HIGHWAY. If you do not wish to keep your pet and
cannot find a suitable, responsible home to adopt it,
take it to your local
animal shelter. (LAMC 53.12) (PC 597s)
SELLING / GIVING AWAY ANIMALS
Animals may NOT be displayed, offered for sale, sold
or given away on any street or sidewalk. (LAMC 43.42)
No person shall sell, barter, exchange or offer for
adoption, whether for compensation or otherwise, any
dog or cat to any minor under the age of eighteen (18)
years without the written permission of one of the minor's
parents or legal guardians.
(LAMC 53.15.2)
DANGEROUS DOGS
Potentially dangerous dogs must be kept in an adequately
fenced/enclosed area and must be under the control of
the owner at all times. (LAMC 53.33-53.34) A vicious
dog (one which has caused certain types of injuries
on humans or animals) may be humanely euthanized by
the Department of Animal Services.
GUARD DOGS
Any dog kept, used or maintained on any commercial or
industrial premises to guard, protect, patrol or defend
any property or person is subject to special provisions,
immunizations, licensing and regulations. (LAMC 53.66)
Contact the Department of Animal Services for information
on Guard Dog laws.
DOG/CAT KENNELS
No one may maintain a dog/cat kennel within the City
of Los Angeles without first obtaining a permit from
the Department of Animal Services. The maximum number
of dogs that may be maintained on your property without
such a permit is three (3). The same limit applies to
cats. (LAMC 53.50) Animal kennels are prohibited within
500 feet of residential areas. (LAMC 20.01 and 20.04)
DOGS IN TRUCKS
No animal may be transported on a street or highway
in the back of a truck or other vehicle unless the animal
is cross-tethered (restrained from two sides), secured
in a carrier or cage, or the space is enclosed or has
side
and tail racks at least 46 inches high so that the animal
may not jump, fall or be thrown out. (Veh. 23117.a)
(See Veh.23117.b for exceptions)
POISONING
No person shall place any poisonous substance in a place
accessible to animals or birds with the intent to kill
or harm them. (PC596)
(LAMC 53.41)
ANIMALS AS FOOD
Pet animals or any traditional companion animals may
not be used, sold or given away for the purpose of using
it as food. (Misdemeanor) (PC 598b)
DOG FIGHTING
Anyone who possesses, keeps or trains any dog with the
intention of engaging in any exhibition of fighting
with another dog or anyone who causes any dog to fight
with another dog is guilty of a felony. Anyone who is
a spectator at such an exhibition of dog fighting is
guilty of a misdemeanor. (PC597)
ANIMAL FIGHTING OTHER THAN DOGS
Possessing training devices or causing any animals or
birds (including fighting cocks) to fight or being a
spectator at such an event is a misdemeanor (PC 597)
OTHER ANIMALS
Fowl and other animals (other than cats, dogs, canaries
and birds of the Psittacine family) must be kept at
least 35 feet from any dwelling, restaurant or food
establishment and 100 feet from any school, hospital,
or similar
institution. (LA County Code Sec. 11.16.090.) Any crowing
rooster, gamecock, turkey, guineahen, peacock,
goose, duck or other fowl capable of loud crowing or
like noise, shall be kept at least 100 feet from any
dwelling, residence or living quarters of persons other
than their owner. (LAMC 40.03)
BURIAL OF ANIMALS
No dead animal or fowl may be buried in the City of
Los Angeles except in an established cemetery. (LAMC
53.62) Report Dead Animals to the Bureau of Sanitation,
Department of Public works: 1-800-773-CITY.
CHAINING
It is currently illegal to chain your dog pursuant to
LAMC Section 53.70. The entire ordinance will be posted
soon.
ANYONE WHO MALICIOUSLY AND INTENTIONALLY MAIMS, MUTILATES,
TORTURES OR WOUNDS A LIVING ANIMAL, OR MALICIOUSLY AND
INTENTIONALLY KILLS AN ANIMAL IS GUILTY OF AN OFFENSE
PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT IN THE STATE PRISON OR BY
A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $20,000, OR BOTH FINE AND IMPRISONMENT.
(PC 597.)
Department of
Animal Services, City of Los Angeles
www.LAAnimalServices.com
1-888-LA-PET1/1-888-452-7381
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