Big Crowd Expected for Pet-Fee Meeting

Widespread interest in a controversial proposal to increase license and breeding fees for unaltered dogs has prompted officials to move a hearing Monday to the large Los Angeles City Council chamber downtown to accommodate an expected overflow crowd.

The council’s three-member public safety committee, led by Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, will hear the issue at 10 a.m. The chamber has seating for more than 300 and closed-circuit monitors that allow overflow crowds to see and hear proceedings.

“We anticipate a lot of people will want to come and be heard,” said Adena Tessler, deputy to Miscikowski. “We made the change so that we could have more room for the public.”

During a series of hearings before the Animal Regulation Commission last year, one meeting was canceled after a crowd of several hundred was turned away by fire safety officials. Subsequent meetings were conducted in large auditoriums around the city.

The Animal Regulation Commission in January recommended increasing the license fee for an unaltered dog from $30 to $100. In addition, the owner of a pet who has a litter of puppies or kittens would be required to pay a $100 fee for a breeding license, double the current charge of $50. Penalties could include a fine of $500.

The proposal has the backing of animal rights and animal rescue groups but is vehemently opposed by hobbyist breeders, including members of the American Kennel Club and Cat Fanciers Assn.

The safety committee--which also includes Nick Pacheco and Joel Wachs--can accept the proposal for consideration by the full City Council or send it back to the animal commission for revision.

The council chamber is in Room 300 at City Hall, 200 N. Main St.