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A new Legislative Alert has been posted on the AKC's Web site. To view this alert, please click on the following link, or cut and paste it into your web browser http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3422

URGENT: LA City Council to Vote on Mandatory Spay/Neuter Ordinance This Friday!
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[Tuesday, January 29, 2008]
The Los Angeles City Council will hear a proposed mandatory spay/neuter ordinance at their meeting this Friday, February 1st. It is vital that responsible dog owners and breeders attend the hearing to oppose this measure.

The ordinance will require that all dogs or cats over the age of four months be spayed or neutered unless they qualify for one of the following exemptions:
The dog or cat is registered with a registry approved by the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services and the dog or cat is used to actively show and has competed in at least one show or sporting competition in the past year or is being trained to show or compete. (It is unclear how an owner would prove that an animal is being trained to show or compete and this would be decided by the Department of Animal Services when they draft additional regulations.)


The dog has earned, or if under 3 years old is in the process of earning an agility, carting, herding, protection, rally, hunting or other title from an approved registry or association.


The dog is trained or in the process of being trained as a guide, signal or service dog or is enrolled in a licensed breeding program for these activities.


The dog is trained or in the process of being trained and is actively used by law enforcement agencies or the military.


A licensed veterinarian certifies that the animal’s health would best be served by spaying/neutering after a specified date, or that due to age or poor health it is unsafe to sterilize the animal at this time.


The owner of the dog or cat has a valid breeding permit issued by the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services.
In addition intact animals must be microchipped and the chip number must be registered with the department.

The proposal will also establish an Animal Services Spay/Neuter Advisory Committee to advise the city on providing spay/neuter services to low income residents. Each member of the Los Angeles City Council will appoint a member to the committee.

What You Can Do:
Attend the City Council meeting at 10am on February 1st Van Nuys City Hall 14410 Sylvan St.
Van Nuys, CA 91401


Send a letter to your representative on the City Council. Please click here for a sample letter. Remember that this letter must be personalized and you need to include your full name and mailing address so you will be recognized as a constituent. To find out who represents you, please click here and enter your address in the "My Neighborhood" box on the far right hand side (scroll down below the link for the council committees).
Contact Information for the City Councilmembers

District 1 - Ed Reyes
200 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7001
Email: councilmember.reyes@lacity.org

District 2 - Wendy Greuel
200 N. Spring Street, Rm475
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7002
Councilmember.greuel@lacity.org

District 3 - Dennis P. Zine
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 450
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7003
Councilmember.zine@lacity.org

District 4 - Tom LaBonge
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 480
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7004
Councilmember.labonge@lacity.org

District 5 - Jack Weiss
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 440
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7005
Councilmember.weiss@lacity.org

District 6 - Tony Cardenas
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 455
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7006
Councilmember.cardenas@lacity.org

District 7 - Richard Alarcón
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 425
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7007
Councilmember.alarcon@lacity.org

District 8 -Bernard Parks
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 460
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7008
Councilmember.parks@lacity.org

District 9 - Jan Perry
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 420
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7009
Councilmember.perry@lacity.org

District 10 - Herb J. Wesson, Jr.
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 430
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7010
Councilmember.wesson@lacity.org

District 11 - Bill Rosendahl
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 415
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7011
Councilmember.rosendahl@lacity.org

District 12 - Greig Smith
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 405
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7012
Councilmember.smith@lacity.org

District 13 - Eric Garcetti
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 470
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7013
Councilmember.garcetti@lacity.org

District 14- José Huizar
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 465
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7014
Councilmember.huizar@lacity.org

District 15 - Janice Hahn
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 435
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7015
Councilmember.hahn@lacity.org