SEAL BEACH : Owners Complain About Animal-Licensing Tactics

When Francine DeFrance’s teen-age son heard the doorbell ring about three weeks ago, he did not hide the family cat in the closet.

DeFrance now wishes he had.

She has since received two strongly worded warnings threatening court action from the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority for harboring an unlicensed feline. During the citywide door-to-door search for unlicensed dogs and cats, a representative of the Animal Control Authority spotted her 1-year-old Siamese cat, Maui, after her son answered the door.

“It seemed like a house search,” DeFrance said, complaining to council members Monday night about what she believes is a heavy-handed approach to pet license enforcement.

Councilwoman Gwen Forsythe said she has received several complaints from residents about “not a real gracious door-to-door-type situation” involving animal licensing representatives. The City Council pledged to review the license operations, but they will continue.

Seal Beach contracted with the Animal Control Authority to canvass the entire city in search of unlicensed dogs and cats. The organization provides animal care services for a dozen cities in southeast Los Angeles County. Seal Beach has its own animal control services, but is using the Animal Control Authority to generate money to handle the increasing costs of animal control.

Seal Beach is one of the few cities in the state that requires licenses for cats, according to Aaron Reyes, licensing supervisor for the Animal Control Authority. Reyes said he understands the wounded feelings of cat owners, but added that cats are responsible for half of all animal control costs.

“It’s not uncommon for cat owners to feel a little threatened or picked on,” Reyes said.