The Spay/Neuter Clock is Ticking

As of today, Angelenos have 61 days to get their dogs and cats spayed or neutered. LA Animal Services launched a “Countdown Clock” on its website to serve as a daily reminder to all Angelinos of how many days they have left to comply with the City’s new Spay/Neuter law before formal enforcement begins on October 1st, 2008.

On February 12, 2008, the City Council of Los Angeles approved a new law that requires all cats and dogs in the City to be spayed or neutered after the age of four months, with some specific exemptions allowed. Mayor Villaraigosa signed this ordinance into law on February 26, 2008, making Los Angeles the national leader in efforts to humanely decrease the number of pets abandoned and euthanized each year.

The law provided a seven month “grace” period to give Los Angeles residents an opportunity to voluntarily comply with the law. The Countdown Clock is to remind them that unless they have proof that their dog or cat is exempt by reason of one of the exemptions in the new law, if they have not spayed or neutered their dog or cat by October 1st, 2008, they will be in violation of the law and subject to civil and criminal penalties.

Failure to abide by the law after October 1, 2008 will result in an initial civil penalty of $100, which can increase to $500. Continued failure to abide by the law may result in the filing of a misdemeanor. At all times, the dog or cat is still required to be spayed or neutered.

The Countdown Calendar and more information on this law and spay/neuter services in the City of Los Angeles can be found at http://www.laanimalservices.com/.