Monday, March 15, 2010

Pet health Q & A: Leash laws, loose cats and when to spay and neuter



Pet health Q & A: Leash laws, loose cats and when to spay and neuter


The answers contained here apply to people who reside in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County and the cities of San Diego, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar and Santee, as those areas fall under the jurisdiction of the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services. If you live in another area, please check with the organization that provides animal control services for that city as the local laws may differ; however, state laws apply.


March 14, 2010


By Jennifer Reed, SDNN
jennifer.reed@sdnn.com or 858-309-4897


San Diego News Network (SDNN)

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Welcome to your pet questions, answered.



In this section, SDNN and a range of local experts answer your burning pet questions – everything from exercise and diet to common animal laws. We’ll crack the myths, correct the contradictory information and give you the truth about your pet.

What do you want to know? Get a professional’s opinion and send your questions to health and wellness editor, Jennifer Reed, at
jennifer.reed@sdnn.com

Answering this week’s questions, from the San Diego Department of Animal Services, is Animal Medical Operations Manager David Johnson and Supervising Animal Control Office Lt. Dan DeSousa.

The answers contained here apply to people who reside in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County and the cities of San Diego, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar and Santee, as those areas fall under the jurisdiction of the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services. If you live in another area, please check with the organization that provides animal control services for that city as the local laws may differ; however, state laws apply.

Q. Do I have to keep my dog on a leash all the time?

A. Dan says: Yes. By keeping your dog on a leash whenever you leave your property, you are helping to keep both the public and your pet safe. When your dog is on a leash, you can control the dog and prevent anyone else from being bitten. It’s simple: if the dog is unrestrained, you have no control over the dog and would not be able to prevent the dog from harming another person. A dog being walked on a leash cannot dart out into traffic and get hit by a car or cause a traffic accident (for which you could be held liable). Nor can a leashed dog chase after and injure another animal, be it a cat, wild animal or other dog. A leash will also help you prevent your dog from getting into things which could either kill him or her (antifreeze, poison) or nauseate you (eating feces or rolling in trash).

Also, dogs are territorial animals by nature. If they are allowed to run loose throughout the neighborhood, they will likely come to see your front yard and those of your neighbors as being their territory. Any “intruder” into that territory (be it a person or another dog) could easily be attacked.

As a note, the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services describes a leash as “any rope, strap, chain or other material six feet or less in length, intended to be held in the hand of a person for the purpose of controlling an animal to which it is attached.”

Q. What can I do about cats coming onto my property?

A. Dan says: There are no regulatory laws for cats and, as such, our Animal Control Officers have no authority to impound loose or homeless cats. However, as a property owner, you do have the legal authority to humanely trap any loose cats on your property and deliver them to our animal shelters. (Note: All state and local anti-animal cruelty laws do apply to cats).

I would recommend that you first speak to the owner of the cat (if known) and advise them that you do not want the cat to come onto your property. Let them know if the problem continues that you intend to set out humane traps to capture the cats and bring them to a shelter. One would hope that they will cooperate as they don’t want to see the cat trapped and brought to a shelter. You may borrow a trap from our shelter by leaving a $50 deposit. Generally we allow a person to keep the trap for one week, but if an extension is needed, it can be granted. After you have trapped a cat, you must keep it safe from harm (there is an instruction sheet with the trap) and you simply need to bring the cat (in the trap) to the closest animal shelter that can legally accept strays. If you know who owns the cat, you must provide us with that information so that we may notify the owner that their cat has been impounded. The owner will be required to pay fees in order to reclaim the cat from the shelter.

As a note, there are thousands of feral (unsocialized domestic) cats in neighborhoods throughout the county. Feral cat colony caretakers place food out for these cats. The cats are captured by members of the Feral Cat Coalition (FCC) and taken to a veterinary hospital to be spayed and neutered, vaccinated, tested for feline leukemia and if, deemed healthy, returned and released in the area where they were trapped. This is known as “Trap, Neuter and Release.” The colony caretakers then continue to feed and otherwise manage the colony.

Q. It’s kitten season. When should I spay or neuter my cat?

A. David says: (see 2-minute and 22-second video at originating website address / URL, scroll down page)
http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2010-03-14/lifestyle/pet-health-q-a-leash-laws-loose-cats-and-when-to-spay-and-neuter

Copyright 2010, San Diego News Network.

http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2010-03-14/lifestyle/pet-health-q-a-leash-laws-loose-cats-and-when-to-spay-and-neuter