Los Angeles city law mandates neutering for dog and cats by four months of age

Many Los Angeles dog and cat owners may not be aware of the fact that as of February 2008, all dogs and cats residing in the city of Los Angeles must be sterilized by the time they reach four months of age, or as late as six months with a letter from the veterinarian. The stated purpose of the ordinances is to reduce and eventually eliminating the amount of euthanasia conducted in Los Angeles’ animal shelters every year.

Some animals are exempt from the ordinance, including those that have competed in shows or sporting competitions, guide dogs, animals used by police agencies and those belonging to professional breeders.

Pet owners who violate the law will initially receive information on subsidized sterilization services and be given an additional 60 days to comply. If they still fail to comply they could be fined $100 and ordered to serve eight hours of community service. A subsequent offense could result in a $500 fine or 40 hours of community service.

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