L.A. city commission urges Mayor Bass to allow four dogs per home

The shelters have been reporting an influx of purebred dogs being dropped off.

The Los Angeles Board of Animal Services Commission on Tuesday, July 9, approved a proposal to increase the limit of dogs per household from three to four in an effort to reduce overcrowding in the city’s six shelters.

In a 3-0 vote, commissioners moved to pass along the recommendation to Mayor Karen Bass’ office and the Los Angeles City Council for further consideration. If approved by city leaders, the City Attorney’s Office would betasked with drafting an ordinance in order to update that policy.

“It is just so critically important that animals have as much opportunity to safely and humanely be housed, whether its in our shelters or in the community,” Staycee Dains, general manager of the city’s Department of AnimalServices, told commissioners before the vote. Commissioner James Jensvold was absent for the vote.

In 2017, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors increased the household limit of pet dogs from three to four. Dains said it is important to have some continuity between the city and county jurisdictions, and they should work closely together.

Dains said one of the main reasons people have to give up their pets is that they don’t have housing or can’t afford housing. Another is that landlords often don’t allow renters to keep all of the animals they have.

“This helps in at least making a legislative measures to say there can actually be an additional animal in the house,” Dains said. “I think this would encourage more adoption and more foster, which we sorely need in thecity.”

The city’s Department of Animal Services has struggled with overcrowding at their shelters. According to the department’s website, as of Tuesday, the current city’s shelter population stands at 1,540 dogs with a capacityof just 737 dogs.

In April the city approved a temporary moratorium on dog breeding permits, a move to address overcrowding and to reduce the intake of dogs. The shelters have been reporting an influx of purebred dogs being dropped off.

According to city documents, the moratorium on dog breeding permits will be lifted once shelters are at or below 75% capacity for three consecutive months, and the moratorium could be automatically reinstated if shelter capacity rises above 75%.

City officials emphasized the moratorium is only temporary until the shelters can get control of the situation. It  affects dogs only — not cats or rabbits.