Animal Control & Licensure

Animal Licenses - Renewed Annually:
The City of Alhambra processes requests for animal licenses handled by the County of Los Angeles Animal Care and Control Division for dogs four months and older.  The owner must come to the Finance Department Customer Service counter for processing and payment of fees. The fee is $30 per year for a non-spayed or non-neutered animal and $15 per year with a Certificate of Sterilization. If the pet owner is a senior citizen (60 years or older), the fee is $7.50 with proof of sterilization and owner's age (i.e. driver's license). While senior citizens are required to pay the fee, it is possible to qualify for a refund upon approval of the Revenue Manager. All new animal licenses expire one-year from the date of issue. A $20 penalty fee is charged for failure to license a dog or cat when the license lapses beyond the expiration date or the pet was not previously licensed as required by law.

L.A. County Dept. of Animal Care & Control:
Except for the processing of animal license fees, all issues pertaining to animal control are handled by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care & Control, which operates six animal care and control centers. These shelters provide 24-hour, seven-day-a-week animal services to 51 cities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The Downey Office represents the City of Alhambra:

LA County: Downey Shelter

11258 S. Garfield Ave. Downey, CA 90242 (562) 940-6898 Hours: Monday – Thursday 12 PM - 7 PM Friday and Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM Closed Sunday and Holidays Directions: North - South Exit the Long Beach Freeway  at Imperial Highway; Shelter is located on Garfield Ave., one block South of Imperial, East of the Long Beach Freeway. East - West Exit the Glen Anderson Freeway (105) at Garfield, Go North on Garfield to shelter.

With six area shelters, the County Department of Animal Care & Control provides a range of services, including:

• Shelter stray dogs, cats and other animals, including livestock.
• Enforce the leash law that forbids dogs from running at large.
• Provide dead animal removal services.
• Investigate cases of suspected animal abuse and neglect and the impoundment of animals seized in such cases
• Assist local law enforcement agencies in raids to end illegal dog and cock fighting activities
• Impound dangerous or vicious dogs and coordinate hearings on their disposition.
• Respond to special animal control problems caused by natural disasters, such as fires, floods and earthquakes. The Department has a mobile field command post that can travel to the command center of a disaster area and operate as the on-site communications and control headquarters for animal-related rescue work.
• Relocate and return to nature, when possible, wild animals that migrate into urban areas. The Department works with the California Department of Fish and Game and the County Department of Agriculture in dealing with predator animals such as mountain lions and coyotes.
• Investigate complaints relating to excessive animal noise, including barking dogs and crowing fowl.
• Inspect and license pet shops, animal boarding kennels, pet grooming parlors, wild animal compounds and exhibitions as well as guard dog firms and guard dogs owned by individual businesses.
• License dogs in accordance with California Health and Safety Code Sec. 1920 and registration of cats under Los Angeles County Code Sec. 10.24.020.

Animal Traps:
The Finance Department loans free animal traps (with an $80 deposit by check, cash or your Visa/Master Card plus the following completed form) that can be used for up to five working days from the day the deposit is paid. However, extensions may be granted with a telephone call to the Finance Department. With return of a clean trap, the deposit will be processed for refund. After five days there will be a $3.00 late fee for each day after the one-week period.

Coyotes and Public Endangerment:
The County Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures website is an excellent resource for coyote information. You can also call them directly at (626) 575-5462, Monday-Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For immediate response to a dangerous situation involving a coyote, dial 9-1-1.

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) responds to coyote issues where there is an imminent threat to public safety (for example, if a coyote has attacked or attempted to attack a person). Detailed information on "living in coyote country" is available on the DFG website. If you need to report a dangerous coyote or obtain more information, call the DFG at (909) 484-0167.

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care & Control responds to situations where a coyote is acting aggressively, or is trapped, injured or dead. 

To minimize conflicts, the following strategies are recommended:

• It is important to maintain a coyote’s natural fear of humans. If a coyote is encountered, scare it away by yelling and acting aggressively, stomping your feet and waving your arms, and/or throwing rocks or other objects.
• Don’t leave small children unattended where coyotes frequent.
• Never feed coyotes or provide them with water.
• Don’t give coyotes access to garbage. Keep trash lids on tight and don’t put trash cans out until the morning of pick-up so coyotes will have less time to scavenge and won’t have the cover of darkness. Coyotes are most active in the spring and summer and especially at night or twilight.
• Prevent access to fruit and compost. Pick up fallen fruit and keep compost piles securely covered. Cover new compost with soil or lime to prevent it from smelling and never include animal matter.
• Feed dogs and cats indoors. If you must feed your pets outside, do so in the morning or at midday and pick up food, water bowls, leftovers, and spilled food well before dark every day. Store pet food indoors.
• Don’t feed feral (wild) cats. Coyotes will prey on them along with any food you leave out for them.
• Prevent the buildup of food under bird feeders.
• Keep cats and small to medium-size dogs indoors, especially from dusk to dawn. If you suspect losing a pet to a coyote, notify your neighbors. Once it finds easy prey, it will continue to hunt in the area.
• Prune shrubs and trees several feet above the ground (especially where children play); clear brush and weeds to deprive rodents of shelter and reduce protective cover for coyotes. Use traps and rodenticides, if needed, to control rodents.
• Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.

Barking Dogs
The Alhambra Municipal Code states that it is unlawful for an owner to keep, maintain or harbor a dog that disturbs the peace and quiet of the neighborhood by loud barking. Only two domestic dogs are allowed per household. Dogs may not run around at large (in the neighborhood).
 
TITLE XVII: ANIMALS, Chapter 7.20.150 Loud Barking
TITLE XVII: ANIMALS, Chapter 7.20.120 Keeping More than Two Dogs Prohibited
TITLE XVII: ANIMALS, Chapter 7.20.158 Dogs Restrained from Running at Large