Long Beach, California

6.08.010 – License—Required.

A. Dog license. No person responsible for any dog shall have such dog, male or female, over the age of four (4) months, within the City without at all times having upon such dog a collar or harness to which shall be securely fastened a tag as provided in this Chapter. Said tag may be issued at any time during the calendar year and may be issued for a period of twelve (12) months. The tag shall be obtained from the Director, inscribed with the letters and words “LONG BEACH” and with the serial number of the tag. The tax shall be sufficient only during the period for which the tag is issued.

B. Cat license. No person responsible for any cat shall have such cat, male or female, over the age of four (4) months, within the City without at all times having upon such cat either a tag as provided in Subsection B.1. below, or a microchip as provided in Subsection B.2. below.

1. Tag. The tag shall be securely fastened to a collar or harness as provided in this Chapter. Said tag may be issued at any time during the calendar year and may be issued for a period of twelve (12) months. The tag shall be obtained from the Director, inscribed with the letters and words “LONG BEACH” and with the serial number of the tag. The tag shall be sufficient only during the period for which the tag is issued.

2. Microchip. In place of the tag and collar described in Subsection B.1. above, a person responsible for a cat may instead ensure that the cat bears an identifiable microchip. For the purposes of this Chapter, the term “microchip” shall mean the injection of an identification chip below the skin of an animal performed by a veterinarian, registered veterinary technician or other qualified staff. The person responsible for such cat shall obtain an annual license at such times and in the manner as specified in Section 6.08.030.

6.08.030 – License—Issuance—Records.

A. Tags for dogs or cats. The Director is authorized and directed to procure on an as needed basis such quantity of tags as may be required for dogs and cats in the City, which tags shall be plainly inscribed as set forth in this Chapter, and shall be valid for only the period for which they are issued. The Director shall furnish such tags to the person(s) responsible for dogs and cats in the City for fees which shall be established by the City Council by resolution for each unaltered dog and for each altered dog whose spaying or neutering is verified by a certificate from a licensed veterinarian and for each altered cat. The Director shall keep a register, wherein shall be entered the name of every person to whom a dog or cat tag has been issued, together with the serial number, and the period for which it is valid, the date of issuance, the address of applicant, and any other data deemed pertinent. Such tag shall be good only for use upon the dog or cat described in such application.

6.08.090 – Unaltered cats—License prohibited.

No license shall be issued for an unaltered cat pursuant to this Chapter, unless the cat is certified by a licensed veterinarian as not being suitable for spaying or neutering due to health reasons pursuant to Section 6.16.085.

6.16.085 – Unaltered dogs and cats prohibited.

A. No person responsible for a cat over the age of four (4) months or a dog over the age of six (6) months shall allow such cat or dog to remain unaltered except as described in Subsection 6.16.085.B.

B. Exceptions to the spay or neuter requirements identified in Subsection 6.16.085.A are:

1. A dog or cat that is incapable of breeding, as determined in accordance with Subsection 6.16.085.C.

2. A dog or cat that is medically unsuited to undergo a spay or neuter procedure, as determined in accordance with Subsection 6.16.085.C.
3. A dog that is undergoing or has received appropriate training and certification by a recognized agency, if such certification is available, and will be or is utilized or is retired from use:
a. By a law enforcement agency for law enforcement activities;
b. By a search and rescue agency for search and rescue activities;
c. As a service animal, such as a guide animal, hearing animal, assistance animal, seizure alert animal, or social/therapy animal approved by the Animal Care Services Bureau; or
d. As breeding stock for dogs described in Subsection 6.16.085.B.3 by a recognized agency or organization approved by the Director.
e. For each of the above, the owner shall provide proof to the satisfaction of the Director with each application for a new or renewal license.
4. A dog or cat harbored by a public shelter, humane society, or similar organization, whether public or private, the principal purpose of which is securing the adoption of dogs or cats, provided that such organization requires the spaying or neutering of all dogs and cats placed for adoption by such organization.
5. A dog that is a breed approved by and registered with a national or international breed registry or association which, at a minimum, requires identification of the breed, date of birth, names of registered sire and dam, the name of the breeder and recordkeeping relating to breeding, transfer of ownership. The owner shall provide verified proof to the satisfaction of the Director with each application for a license.
6. A dog which is undergoing training to or currently is trained to compete or be used for herding of other animals, or as a livestock guardian dog, or a dog designated as breeding stock for these purposes by a recognized agency or organization approved by the Director. The owner shall provide proof to the satisfaction of the Director with each application for a new or renewal license.

C. Qualification for exemption. For purposes of the exemptions set forth in Subsections 6.16.085.A and 6.16.085.B, a dog or cat is:
1. Incapable of breeding if a licensed veterinarian has so certified in writing.
2. Medically unsuited to undergo a spay or neuter procedure if a licensed veterinarian has certified in writing, that a spay or neuter procedure would likely cause the animal’s death or substantially aggravate a physical condition of the animal. The certification shall indicate the medical basis for the exemption and whether the unsuitability is temporary or permanent. If temporary, the certificate shall indicate the period of time the unsuitability is anticipated to last. For an exemption to apply beyond that period, a new certificate must be obtained.