Blog: Department of Animal Care and Control Shaking Down Altadena for Funds

I just want to share what happened to me yesterday with all my neighbors in Altadena. If it happened to me, I assume it's happening to others as well.

I got home from work last night and there was a pink notice stuck on my door from the County of LA, Dept of Animal Care and Control. It stated that I have a cat therefore I have to leave them a check/money order today for $60. $20 for my cat if she’s unaltered, and an additional $40 for a “mandatory field enforcement fee.”

I have been a cat owner for a number of years. I know dogs need to have license, but I wasn’t aware that I have to have a license for a cat. When I contacted their department that handles licensing, they said the license fee for an altered cat is $5. On the pink slip they gave me it said it’s $10. And yes, they confirmed that this is something that started doing recently in the "unincorporated areas of Los Angeles." They are sending “officers” out to canvas certain areas to “verify that there is an animal in residence,” and if so, they are leaving them pink slips demanding payment.

I find this extremely upsetting. I am not an animal hoarder, I have one indoor cat that has been “fixed.” I keep my property nice as a good conscientious law abiding citizen. The fact that they showed up at my door unprovoked, probably peak in my window, realized that I have a cat, and decided to slap me with a fee is just simply outrageous!

This makes me feel violated in every way. Had they sent everyone in the area  letters and informed us that all cats need to be licensed, I would have gladly paid them the $5/$10. But instead they walked the neighborhood, enter people’s property, violate our privacy, and then told us that we have to pay them $40 for the intrusion because they choose to enter our property is just preposterous! Anyone else that does such a thing would be considered as a shake-down artist.

I am not mad about the licensing fee, I am just angry about the way they go about it. I don’t know what my recourse is, but I do feel the need to make my voice heard regarding this random “surprise” action taken by the Dept. of Animal Control. Is this considered as acceptable behavior just because the county needs money? I am not sure what I am more upset about, the fact they are doing this or the fact that they are spending the tax payer’s money and resources to shake the taxpayer down! I assume that this is also happening to other people in Altadena, even though my one neighbor across the street said she has not received any such notice and she has dogs and cats.

I would like to know how everyone feels about this. I consider myself as a good law abiding citizen, I prefer to keep a low profile, but this incident has push me to action. The county's solution to their financial problems is to send someone out to shake pet owners down for money instead of watching their budget like everyone else. When I contacted them, I was told that it's my responsibility to be aware of the fact that I have to have a license for my cat, and that the $40 is not for the county, it's for the officer for his time and effort of coming out to my house. So, it's my fault. I don't know about you, $40 for stopping at my place while he "canvas" the neighborhood, that is a pretty lucrative job. Maybe I should quit my day job. How much is that per hour? Is that comparable to the salary paid to former City of Bell council members?

The county needs money, so they send someone out to your home to shake you down for it. If you don't like it, there is no room for discussion. You either pay it, or be ready to take time off work, go to court or be slapped with a citation. Loss of income to you and more money for them. Isn't that extortion?