(March 18, 2015) -- As seen LIVE on LBREPORT.com and flashed on our front page, the Long Beach City Council voted 7-1 (Austin dissenting, 4th dist. vacant) on March 17 to give second reading (enactment) approval to an ordinance requiring residents to spay/neuter their pet dogs. A week earlier, the Council gave the ordinance first-reading approval with a grandfathering amendment 6-0 (Austin expressing misgivings but voting yes, Gonzalez and Uranga absent, 4th dist. vacant) coverage here.) Long Beach already has a mandatory spay/neuter law for cats.

The measure as amended (text here) includes a "grandfathering" provision successfully added on a March 10 floor motion by Councilwoman Stacy Mungo, that that applies to currently licensed intact dogs, letting them remain so while the owner pays the altered (lesser) license fee if the license doesn't lapse. Dogs licensed after Oct. 1 will be subject to the ordinance's spay/neuter provisions in full.

"The proposed changes represent a balance of mandating the spaying and neutering of all dogs, while providing an exemption process for the owners of dogs with health issues, pure bred show dogs, and working dogs, so that these types of dog owners can continue with their endeavors. The changes also include new laws regulating the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in the City. The new laws would take effect on October 1, 2015, providing ample time for affected parties to comply," says an accompanying city management staff memo.

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The ordinance will increase the cost of dog licenses by 40% for those with altered dogs, raising the cost from $20 to $28 in most cases and $10 to $14 for seniors. For unaltered animals, the cost would go from $95 to $105. LB Animal Care management says the increased cost will offset a decrease in revenue from the differential between the current unaltered license charge of $95 versus altered charge of $20. plus "ongoing educational and marketing materials," increased Animal License Inspector staffing for enforcement and increased support for a voucher program.

Dog owners will also be personally responsible for the costs for the surgery, although the City and some grassroots groups offer vouchers that reduce the out of pocket costs.

The ordinance also prohibits the sale of dogs, cats or rabbits in any LB pet shop unless they come from an animal shelter, humane society, rescue organization or bred on the premises with a valid breeding permit. The latter provision drew support on March 17 (as on March 10) from a speaker active in opposing commercial dog breeding ("puppy mills.")

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Multiple speakers testified in opposition. Representatives of the American Kennel Club said the group will refuse to bring its Eukanuba dog show to Long Beach [which it exited in 2010] if the Council enacts the ordinance. Others alleged health risks of early spay/neutering, arguing that the decision on surgery for one's pet should be between the owner and their veterinarian. Several speakers also asserted that there's no evidence that mandatory spay/neuter provisions (enacted in other jurisdictions) reduces euthanasias.

The ordinance was strongly supported as a humane measure saving animals from euthanasias and bringing health and safety benefits for the public, stated in previous Council meetings by a number of veteran LB animal advocates. Vocal supporters in previous Council meetings included representatives of Friends of LB Animals (all-volunteer non-profit spay-neuter educational group) and by Fix Long Beach. Spay/neuter supporters (who overwhelmingly prevailed on a first enacting Council vote on Mar. 10) didn't testify at the Mar. 17 second reading Council vote.

The AKC's position on its annual dog show confirms a March 11 report on LBREPORT.com after Councilwoman Mungo said at the March 10 Council meeting that "we've alleviated that concern, we've talked with national, and the [LB] Convention and Visitors Bureau has made sure that we're not going to be precluded from that with this ordinance." (On Mar. 11, AKC's national office told us via email: "I can confirm that the passing of Long Beach’s mandatory spay/neuter ordinance would remove Long Beach from consideration as a future location for the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship.")

As previously reported in detail (in an "Amnesia File" report) by LBREPORT.com, the AKC has previously tried to use its annual dog show to try and sway the LB City Council (and the state legislature) on policy matters. See: "American Kennel Club Tries (Again) To Use Lure Of Its Annual Dog Show To Try To Sway Lawmakers; Amnesia File: In 2006, LB Officials Changed LB Law To Enable Previously Banned Dog Breeding To Appease AKC; Group Then Threatened To Leave CA Over Then-Pending Mandatory Statewide Spay/Neuter Law (That Later Failed Passage); AKC Dog Show Ultimately Left Long Beach And CA Anyway"

The measure was brought forward on November 18, 2014 by Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal, joined by Councilmembers Suzie Price and Stacy Mungo without discussion in any Council committee, which isn't legally required. At that time, the Council voted 8-0 (Assemblyman-elect O'Donnell absent) to direct the City Attorney to prepare ordinance text in the item...with Councilman Al Austin voicing some misgivings about the proposal but approving the drafting a measure to continue debate.