LANCASTER : Council Is 3rd in County to Reject Cat Licensing

The fur was flying as the Lancaster City Council voted 3 to 2 to become the third city in Los Angeles County to reject a county proposal to begin mandatory cat licensing in the community and to add a $2 surcharge to dog licenses.

“I think it’s ridiculous. The next thing you’re going to want is my pet rabbit,” said Mayor Arnie Rodio, who helped swing the council vote and owns two Himalayan cats. Only one citizen testified on the subject, but council members said they had gotten calls opposing the measure.

In February the county began mandatory cat licensing in unincorporated areas. County animal control officials have been trying to get the 51 cities they serve to follow suit. But only five have passed the measure and three--Lancaster, South Gate and Malibu--have rejected it, a spokesman said.