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Officials Start Door-to-Door Canvassing for Unlicensed Dogs

Published on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 | 4:40 am
 

Scouring the neighborhoods of Pasadena, the Pasadena Humane Society began door-to-door canvassing Tuesday in the Hastings Ranch area to verify dog owners have proper licensing and vaccinations for each dog per state law.

Universe De Anda was the first Pasadena Humane Society official to hit the streets, catching several people by surprise. From not knowing about renewing the licensing each year to having no knowledge of the licensing laws or simply needing to renew their license, dog owners had varying responses.

However, De Anda said that since the canvassing announcement dog owners have been flooding the Pasadena Humane Society Office with new and renewed licenses. Each dog must be registered with its own license, with the limit of four dogs per household.

About 6,000 people in Pasadena own at least one dog.

“Many people in this neighborhood are skeptical of us and hesitant to answer the door because there have been several break-ins lately,” De Anda said.

Several residents would open the door only a crack without a friendly word for the licensing officers, only to take a brochure and slam the door. De Anda found at least three dog owners without a license.

Five officers will do their best to ring every doorbell in Pasadena over the month of September Tuesdays through Fridays, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 3. They will start in the Hastings Ranch area of East Pasadena. PHS officials will canvass other neighborhoods as soon as possible, going across town from east to west.

If Society licensing officials find a dog without a license, they provide the owner with a new licensing form. Follow-up letters will be mailed out if action is taken within two weeks and at extreme measures a citation will be given.

All authorized canvassers will be wearing a uniform with a white shirt with the Society’s patch on the shoulder or a tan “polo” style shirt, with a photo ID badge and blue pants or jeans. Each canvasser will be able to answer questions about dog licensing.

To verify if the person is a member of the Society, call (626) 792-7151, ext. 115, during normal business hours. The Society’s office is closed on Mondays.

“That’s something I’ve noticed since I’ve been working this job. A lot of people will have the sign ‘Beware of Dog’ but no dog. They do it for security reasons,” Mark Gonzalez said.

This first Pasadena canvassing day was an extreme canvassing for Mark Gonzalez with the extreme heats and extreme hills in the neighborhood he was assigned to for the day.

The Pasadena Humane Society assumed responsibility from the City to do all dog licensing in Pasadena effective July 1, 2013. The Society has issued dog licenses for Arcadia, La Cañada/Flintridge, Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre, and South Pasadena.

“It’s good the Pasadena Humane Society took over dog licensing. The PHS is more accessible because we deal with animals in several capacities whereas City Hall has many other issues to deal with,” De Anda said.

What some people do not know is that if a dog has passed away, the owners should also notify the Pasadena Humane Society so that the requests for updated licensing will not be mailed.

Officials say a dog license helps reunite lost pets with their owners and keeps animals safe and healthy. While the licensing tag is good forever, the license must be renewed each year. To get a license, the dogs must be four months or older and the owner must provide a current rabies certificate. Annual renewal of a dog license is required with proof of current rabies vaccination, according to state law. Rabies vaccines and certificates are valid for one to three years. Vaccinations are available at various veterinarian offices and also at the Society’s office. Dog owners can reduce costs by having their dog spayed or neutered.

Dog owners can continue to bring their dog’s license applications and rabies certificates directly to the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA located at 361 South Raymond Ave. The Society is open Tuesday through from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., while it is closed on Mondays.

A payment drop-off box is also located at the City of Pasadena Municipal Services Payment Office. The box will be checked weekly by the Society’s licensing officers.

For further licensing information or other resources, contact PHS at (626) 792-7151, ext. 115 or visit www.pasadenahumane.org/licensing.

 

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