Animal Control Outrage

Dear Editor:

I am FUMING!

When I was out of town, Animal Control came through our backyard to our deck and asked [my husband] if we had any dogs. He said no, but we have a cat. Then they asked if we have a license for our 16-year-old indoor cat and he said no.

So they served him with a citation saying we have to buy a license and provide proof that our cat is spayed, and her rabies vaccine is current.

They charged us $40 for that visit, then returned a second time (when we were not home) and left a second $40 citation, with an order to appear in court within FIVE DAYS, which means we need to pay $80 for two visits from Animal Control AND $10 for a license AND certification of rabies vaccine and spaying AND appear IN person at a hearing BEFORE this Friday. For a CAT? For a 16-year-old-indoor cat?

Our cat last had her rabies vaccine two years ago and we are concerned about how it will affect our older pet. Also, it seems overkill to charge us $40 a visit. Also, there has not been an incident of rabies in Los Angeles since the 1970’s as I recall.

Someone else said it might be a scam, but we now have three citations and an official looking notice.

In our neighborhood, we are surrounded by neighbors with pigs, horses, chickens and many of them are also dog breeders. It seems to me to be a low priority to be citing people for indoor cats. I asked around and no one else in our area has been visited by Animal Control.

— Millicent Borges-Accardi