A. 
No person may own, keep, or harbor a dog over the age of four (4) months in violation of this section. An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog must have the dog spayed or neutered or obtain an unaltered dog license in accordance with Section 8.20.355.
B. 
The owner or custodian of a dog which is unable to be spayed or neutered without a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death due to age or infirmity must obtain written confirmation of that fact from a licensed veterinarian. The writing must also state the date by which the dog may be safely spayed or neutered. If the dog is unable to be spayed or neutered within thirty (30) days, the owner or custodian must apply for an unaltered dog license.
(Ord. 06-11, 12/12/2006)
An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog over the age of four (4) months must obtain an annual unaltered dog license for the dog. The license shall be issued if the department has determined that all of the following conditions are met:
A. 
The dog is one of the following: a competition dog as defined in Section 8.08.097; a dog used by a law enforcement agency for law enforcement purposes; a qualified service or assistance dog as defined in Section 8.20.090; or a dog which is unable to be spayed or neutered as set forth in Section 8.20.350(B);
B. 
The owner or custodian has submitted the required application and has paid the fee set forth in Section 8.90.010(VI)(A); and
C. 
The unaltered dog will be maintained in accordance with the provisions of Los Angeles County Code Section 8.40.010, and with applicable state animal care and control laws.
(Ord. 06-11, 12/12/2006)
A. 
Animal Control Services may deny or revoke an unaltered dog license for one or more of the following reasons:
1. 
The applicant or licensee is not in compliance with all of the requirements of Section 8.20.355;
2. 
The department has received at least one complaint, verified by the complainant under penalty of perjury, that the applicant or licensee has allowed a dog to run loose or escape, or has otherwise been found to be neglectful of his or her dog or other animals;
3. 
The applicant or licensee has been previously cited for violating a state law, county code or other municipal provision relating to the care and control of animals;
4. 
The unaltered dog has been adjudicated by a court or an agency of appropriate jurisdiction to be a potentially dangerous or vicious dog, or to be a nuisance within the meaning of the Los Angeles County Code or under State law;
5. 
Any unaltered dog license held by the applicant has been revoked;
6. 
A female unaltered dog has had more than one litter per year, or five (5) or more litters in her lifetime; or
7. 
The license application is discovered to contain a material misrepresentation of fact.
B. 
Reapplication for Unaltered Dog License.
1. 
When an unaltered dog license is denied, the applicant may reapply for a license upon a showing that the requirements of Section 8.20.355 have been met. The department shall refund one-half of the license fee when an application is denied. The applicant shall pay the full fee upon reapplication.
2. 
When an unaltered dog license is revoked, the owner or custodian of the dog may apply for a new license after a thirty (30) day waiting period upon a showing that the requirements of Section 8.20.355 have been met. No part of an unaltered dog license fee is refundable when a license is revoked and the applicant shall pay the full fee upon reapplication.
(Ord. 06-11, 12/12/2006)
A. 
Request for Hearing.
1. 
Notice of Intent to Deny or Revoke. The department shall mail to the owner or custodian a written notice of its intent to deny or revoke the license for an unaltered dog which includes the reason(s) for the denial or revocation. The owner or custodian may request a hearing to appeal the denial or revocation. The request must be made in writing within ten (10) days after the notice of intent to deny or revoke is mailed. Failure to submit a timely written hearing request shall be deemed a waiver of the right to appeal the license denial or revocation.
2. 
Hearing Officer. The hearing shall be conducted by the director's designee.
3. 
Notice and Conduct of Hearing. The department shall mail a written notice of the date, time, and place for the hearing not less than ten (10) days before the hearing date. The hearing date shall be no more than thirty (30) days after the department's receipt of the request for a hearing. Failure of the owner or custodian or his or her agent to appear at the hearing will result in forfeiture of the right to a hearing. The hearing will be informal and the rules of evidence will not be strictly observed. The department shall mail a written decision to the owner or custodian within ten (10) days after the hearing. The decision of the hearing officer shall be the final administrative decision.
B. 
Change in Location of Dog. If the dog is moved after the department has issued a letter of intent to deny or revoke, but has not yet denied or revoked the license, the owner or custodian must provide the department with information as to the dog's whereabouts, including the current owner or custodian's name, address, and telephone number.
(Ord. 06-11, 12/12/2006)
A. 
Offer for Sale or Transfer of Unaltered Dog. An owner or custodian who offers any unaltered dog for sale, trade, or adoption must include a valid unaltered dog license number with the offer of sale, trade or adoption, or otherwise state and establish compliance with Section 8.20.350. The license and microchip numbers must appear on a document transferring the dog to the new owner.
B. 
Transfer of Unaltered Dog. The owner or custodian of an unaltered dog over the age of four (4) months, which is not a competition dog as defined in Section 8.08.097, must demonstrate compliance with Sections 8.20.185 and 8.20.350 prior to the transfer, and must notify the department of the name and address of the transferee within ten (10) days after the transfer.
C. 
Notification of Litter and Sale or Transfer of Puppies. Within thirty (30) days after a litter is born to a female dog, the owner or custodian of the female dog shall advise the department in writing of the number of live born puppies. When a puppy under the age of four (4) months is sold or otherwise transferred to another person, the owner or custodian shall advise the department of the name and address of the new owner or custodian, and the microchip number of the puppy, if applicable, within ten (10) days after the transfer.
(Ord. 06-11, 12/12/2006)
The penalties for violations of any provision of this part are as follows:
A. 
First Violation. A first violation shall be an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). If the owner or custodian fails to correct the underlying cause of the violation within thirty (30) days after being notified of the violation, it shall be deemed a second violation.
B. 
Second Violation. A violation within a year of a first violation shall be deemed a second violation. A second violation is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months or by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each subsequent violation within one year shall be considered an additional misdemeanor.
C. 
There will be no fine for failure to microchip a dog as defined in Section 8.20.185.
(Ord. 06-11, 12/12/2006)
A. 
When an unaltered dog is impounded, the owner or custodian may reclaim the unaltered dog when one of the following occurs:
1. 
The dog is spayed or neutered by a department veterinarian at the expense of the owner or custodian. Such expense may include additional fees due to extraordinary care required;
2. 
The dog is spayed or neutered by another department-approved veterinarian. The owner or custodian may arrange for another department-approved veterinarian to spay or neuter the dog, and shall pay to the department the cost to deliver the dog to the chosen veterinarian. The cost to deliver the dog shall be based on the department's hourly rate established by the Auditor-Controller, billed in minimum one-hour increments. The veterinarian shall complete and return to the department, within ten (10) days, a statement confirming that the dog has been spayed or neutered and shall release the dog to the owner or custodian only after the spay or neuter procedure is complete;
3. 
At the discretion of the director, the dog may be released to the owner or custodian if he or she signs a statement under penalty of perjury representing that the dog will be spayed or neutered and that he or she will submit a statement within ten (10) days, signed by the veterinarian, confirming that the dog has been spayed or neutered; or
4. 
If the owner or custodian demonstrates compliance with Section 8.20.350.
B. 
Costs of Impoundment.
1. 
The owner or custodian of the unaltered dog shall be responsible for the costs of impoundment, which shall include daily board costs.
2. 
The costs of impoundment shall be a lien on the dog, and the unaltered dog shall not be returned to its owner or custodian until the costs are paid. If the owner or custodian of an impounded unaltered dog does not pay the lien against the dog in full within fourteen (14) days, the dog shall be deemed abandoned to the department in accordance with Section 8.36.310.
(Ord. 06-11, 12/12/2006)
All costs and fines collected under this part and the fees collected under Section 8.90.010(VI)(A) shall be paid to the department for the purpose of defraying the cost of the implementation and enforcement of this Part 4.
(Ord. 06-11, 12/12/2006)