TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft a resolution providing for a temporary amnesty program waiving late penalty fees for dog licenses through September 30, 2015.
DISCUSSION
On March 10, 2015, the City Council considered a recommendation to declare ordinance amending Title 6 of the Long Beach Municipal Code to make it mandatory for dog owners to spay or neuter their pets, unless they possess a medical exclusion or exemption, and to prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, or rabbits in nay pet shop retail business or other commercial establishment, unless they were obtained from an animal shelter, humane society, rescue organization, or bred on the premises possessing a valid breeding permit.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Lowenthal, seconded by Councilwoman Mungo, and unanimously approved, to declare ordinance, as amended, to revise the section under Temporary exemption as follows: An unaltered dog or cat that has a valid license from the Animal Care Services (ACS) Bureau shall not be subject to this Section until the license lapses, or October 1, 2015, whichever occurs last.
In an effort to encourage residents to license their animals for the first time, or to make their existing dog license current, prior to Ordinance No. ORO-15-0008, amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Section 6.16.085 and by adding Section 6.16.062 all relating to animal regulation, which takes effect October 1, 2015, a one-time amnesty program for late fees is requested.
This proposed amnesty program leading up to the implementation of the new mandatory spay/neuter law for all dogs over six (6) months would eliminate the associated expired license penalty of $30.00 through September 30, 2015. Such a campaign to promote voluntary compliance would not only address approximately 13,000 expired dog licenses but would afford owners of unaltered dogs the opportunity to keep their animal intact so long as the animal's license is maintained before October 1 st.
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