Photo by Merrilee Adler
One more step toward equal rights: Cat licensing
9:00am | Second-class pet citizens no longer, cats have clawed their way toward equal standing with dogs. Although Fourth District Councilmember and avid cat-lover Patrick O’Donnell has called licensing cats a cat tax, he’ll get no argument from Second District Councilmember Suja Lowenthal.
“He is exactly right that there has been a ‘cat tax’ paid by dog owners and general fund taxpayers for years,” Lowenthal said. “It is estimated that we spend between $400,000 and $500,000 per year to impound, care for and euthanize unwanted cats. We are taxing ourselves by accepting the status quo with regard to cats. Right now, dog owners are asked to pay almost $700,000 a year in license fees, while cat owners pay nothing. We heard loudly and clearly from the community that everyone should pay their fair share for animal care services.”
The City Council will discuss the cat licensing recommendation at the May 4 council meeting. Included in the proposal will be improving health outcomes at the shelter and expanding affordable spay-and-neuter options through hiring a State-licensed veterinarian; expanding low-cost vaccinations, microchipping and adoptions through mobile clinics in hard-to-reach areas in Long Beach; and creating an Animal Care Ambassadors Program to promote humane education and responsible pet ownership. All of these recommendations will work to improve the health, safety and adoptability of shelter animals.
Lowenthal has been instrumental in bringing humane issues to the forefront. Her agenda for this week’s council meeting directly connects cat as well as dog licensing with general health for the animals and responsibility on the part of the owners.
“We have an opportunity to fundamentally change the way that we look at animal care issues—shifting our focus from the traditional animal control agency to animal care—by focusing more on proactive prevention strategies—spay and neuter and licensing—rather than reacting to the problems of overpopulation and irresponsible pet ownership,” Lowenthal said.
Licensing cats, she stated will ensure that they’re vaccinated and altered. Funding a veterinarian will provide evaluation and oversight, and mobile clinics will assist in making it all affordable when necessary. As of now, over 58 cities in California license cats and a considerable number do in other states. Lowenthal hopes to add Long Beach to the list. So far, the proposal is still at the discussion stage, and Lowenthal wants to provide adequate time to cat owners to get their cats spayed or neutered, and to allow a grace period.
“This is a good idea,” said Lyndi Bell, who was buying a treat for her dog, Hazel at Chuck and Toby’s. “Dogs have to be licensed, so cats should as well. It will help people keep track of them.”
Lowenthal agrees, stating that cats are impounded and euthanized in greater numbers than are dogs, and licensing would make locating owners easier. Licensing animals helps local shelters in returning the animals to their homes. It is an excellent recovery system and proves legal ownership. Licenses can be tags worn on collars or a microchip somewhere on the animal, which is a permanent source of identification and cannot be lost or present a choking hazard.
Some community members—most of them, oddly, dog owners—wondered why cats, “who don’t go outside” (of course, they do, and shouldn’t, for their own health) should need licensing, that dogs are “more risky because they can bite people” (he obviously hasn’t spoken to the Prince of Ailuromisia, Tim Grobaty, who considers cats the worst of bad neighbors and who undoubtedly waits for them wearing a pith helmet and armed with a garden hose) and, most of all, how the licensing would be enforced.
“Nobody intends for their dogs to get out, but almost 4,000 are impounded at the shelter every year,” Lowenthal said. “The licensing requirement will ensure that Animal Care Services has the tools to return cats to their owners with the success that they have with dogs.”
“But, how do you license cats?” asked one dog owner. “There are so many.”
This is a good question, and like herding cats, it doesn’t seem simple. Cats don’t bark or jump up and lick the door-to-door canvasser. They’re relatively easy to conceal (unless you accidentally close them off in the dresser drawer, and then, they make themselves known). ACS recently sent out a news release (see below) that asks people to help identify unlicensed dogs in the city. To some, this amounts to ratting out your neighbors.
And there are the ferals and the strays whom people feed. Lowenthal said that because the municipal code states that every domestic animal in the city must have a person responsible for him or her, and the person feeding strays should go beyond feeding and get them fixed, vaccinated and cared for.
“If someone wants to take responsibility for an animal, it is not our goal to punish them” Lowenthal said. “Any legislation will provide animal care services with the ability to work with residents to ensure that people are not punished for acting responsibly or humanely. However, if there is no person responsible for an animal. it is the responsibility already by law for animal care services to impound the animal, provide veterinary care and seek a responsible home for adoption.” Ferals, too must be altered, vaccinated and have a responsible person or persons caring for them, but Lowenthal didn’t specify whether feral stewardship falls in the realm of the proposed legislation. That’s up to the interested parties to iron out.
As to the specific amount of cat tax, no decisions can be made until the proposal details have been discussed. License fees will go toward in enforcement and health prevention activities—any dent in the euthanasia number is an improvement.
Finally, there’s a firm denial for any contention that equal rights legislation between cats and dogs will create a slippery slope of licensing rabbits, hamsters, parakeets and goldfish.
“The current effort focuses on the animals that are impounded most and euthanized most at the city’s shelter,” Lowenthal said.
Voice your opinion at the May 4 City Council Meeting beginning 5 p.m. at the Council Chambers. Click here for agenda.
Pet Projects
Tonight, May 3, 7 p.m., Town Hall Meeting, featuring ACS manager John Keisler
Justin Rudd! & Haute Dogs will host a Town Hall in Belmont Shore to discuss the state of our animals. Haute Dogs will give away door prizes—at least four $50 gift certificates to a local pet supply retailer, plus grooming certificates from Wags to Wiskers to those who are on time and stay until 8:30 p.m. Come ask your questions, and get answers. Bay Shore Church concert hall, 5100 The Toledo at Granada Avenue, Belmont Shore 90803. Free parking lot at the corner of The Toledo at Livingston Drive. (one block north of the GAP/Banana Republic)
Ellen DeGeneres, photo by Merrilee Adler
Stamp of approval
On the last post, we featured the “Stamps to the Rescue” project, in which dogs and cats adopted from the shelter are featured on U.S. postage stamps. We’ve ordered ours, and our friend Merrilee Adler, who put together the photo for this post, went to the First Day Issue ceremony on April 30 at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in North Hollywood. Click here to see photos and read the heartfelt message she’s written about the importance of shelter adoption.
ACS: Residents, help us identify unlicensed, unvaccinated dogs
As many as 103,000 household dogs are projected to live in the City of Long Beach, but only about 29,000 of these dogs have a current paid license and rabies vaccination registered with the city.
“This presents a public health and safety threat to our neighborhoods,” said Ronald R. Arias, director of Health and Human Services. Recent outbreaks of canine distemper and a confirmed case of rabies nearby have highlighted the importance of licensing and vaccinating pets.
The city has distributed 170,000 fliers in English and Spanish through utility bills, encouraging dog owners to register their pets. Now, Animal Care Services is asking residents to help identify unlicensed or unvaccinated animals in their neighborhood by submitting anonymous reports of unregistered animals.
“All we need is the address (and unit) and the number of animals at the property,” said John Keisler, manager of Animal Care Services.”
Licensing is a Long Beach city law, and violators may face citations of $50–$100.
Violators may be cited and subject to fines.
To report an unlicensed dog, call (562) 570-PETS (7387) or e-mail [email protected]. All reports will remain anonymous. For information about licensing, click here.
Virtually Pets
Mark and Brian Pet Adoption Day, May 8, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
KLOS-FM’s Mark Thompson and Brian Phelps make their yearly road trip to the SPCLA at the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village (7700 E. Spring St., [562] 570-7722) for a live broadcast. Vendor booths, silent auction and the possibility of hooking up with one of these stars:
Louie, adult male DSH Tommy, adult male DSH
Alfie, adult male Chihuahua Angie, female terrier
Remember to stop over at the ACS section of the Village—there are many animals who would like to go home there, too.