Pet Owners Get 6-Week Reprieve on Licenses

For the thousands of dog and cat owners who have neglected to obtain pet licenses, Los Angeles County has a deal for you.

During the next six weeks, the county’s Department of Animal Care and Control will waive the $20 fine it charges owners who have failed to license their pets, as required by law.

The offer pertains to people living in the county’s unincorporated areas and to those in the contract cities of Carson, Hawaiian Gardens, Lancaster, Lomita, Lynwood and Palmdale. Residents of other cities are served by their own animal control agencies.

“A dog or cat’s license is its ticket back home in the event the pet becomes a stray,” said Marcia Mayeda, the county’s animal care director. If a dog bites someone, she said, the license tag shows whether the animal has a current rabies vaccination.

In unincorporated areas, dog licenses cost $30 per year, or $15 if the dog has been spayed or neutered. Fees range from $5 to $40 in cities served by the county agency. Cat licenses are $10 per year, or $5 for cats that have been spayed or neutered.

Until Feb. 15, pet owners can avoid the penalty for an unlicensed animal, as well as any back charges for previous years.

The amnesty marks the first time in 20 years that the county has waived the fines, Mayeda said. To license a pet, visit the nearest county animal shelter or call (562) 728-4706 for assistance.