Animal licenses are required for all dogs in the City of South Pasadena.
Dog Licenses
The Pasadena Humane Society now licenses dogs for the City of South Pasadena. Licenses may be purchased at the Pasadena Humane Society located at 361 South Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105. A rabies vaccine certificate is required. If your dog is spayed or neutered, please provide proof of sterilization. For additional information regarding dog licenses, please contact the Pasadena Humane Society at (626) 792-7151.
Basic Needs
Your pet needs more than food, water and shelter. It also needs your love and attention. It needs to know that it is a part of the family. Plenty of playtime, regular exercise and obedience training can be mutually beneficial. The care and compassion that you show your pet will bring years of unconditional love to you and your family.
Tagging
Keep track of your dog by providing a collar with a tag that identifies you as its owner and tells how you can be reached. For cats, too, a breakaway collar with an ID tag will be an enormous help in reuniting you with your pet. Even a house pet can benefit from an ID tag; if it should ever get outside, it can become disoriented and lost.
Healthcare
Regular veterinary care is an important part of your pet's well-being. Annual vaccinations protect it, and others, from a multitude of diseases. Rabies shots, which are required by law for dogs (and strongly recommended for cats), protect not only your pet but your family as well. In addition to vaccinations, your pet will need nutritious food and plenty of water, along with periodic dental care and frequent grooming (which should include bathing, brushing and nail trimming). Regular health maintenance means a longer and happier life for everyone.
Spaying and Neutering
Dog and cat owners need to give serious consideration to the problem of pet overpopulation as it relates to their own animal. Unwanted reproduction is easily preventable with a simple humane procedure. The benefits of spaying and neutering are twofold: First, it increases life expectancy by preventing testicular cancer in males and breast cancer in females; and second, it helps reduce the number of homeless animals that will be abandoned or die from euthanasia each year. There are many myths about spaying and neutering, but be assured that your pet will be happier without the strain of repeated litters or the "urge to roam."
Pet Safety
Don't forget that there are numerous hazards to animals in the home and yard. Be sure that toxic products such as pesticides and car coolants are safely stored. Car coolant's sweet odor is an attraction to animals. Avoid houseplants and outdoor vegetation (some is indigenous to South Pasadena area) that can be poisonous to animals. Take care that your yard is properly fenced and gated to prevent escape. For indoor pets, door locks and screens should be secure. When outdoors, your pet will needs some ground space other than concrete to walk or lie comfortably, and an area sheltered from rain or continuous sunlight. If you transport your animal anywhere in hot weather, bear in mind that a closed parked car can become a lethal oven in minutes.
Disaster Preparedness Earthquakes and other emergencies require preparation for people and pets alike. You can save a pet's life by assembling a survival kit in advance. It should include: an up-to-date vaccination record, a photo to establish ownership if you are separated, a portable carrier, food and water, a leash and a list of local shelters to contact. Remember that an emergency is just one more reason for an ID tag. If you must evacuate your residence, do not leave your pet behind. If it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for your pet.
Leash Law
You must have control of your dog on a chain or leash at all times when your dog leave your property. (South Pasadena City Code sec. 5.44). A dog found running at large is subject to impoundment. As its owner, you can be issued a citation and held liable for payment of impound fees. The impound fee rises rapidly for repeat offenses.
Barking Dogs
Aside from concern for your dog, the law requires you to be considerate of your neighbors. A dog that barks continuously without an owner's response is a neglected dog. If it disturbs the peace and comfort of your neighbors, it is also a public nuisance, for which you, as its owner, will be held responsible (SPCC sec. 5.20). On a complaint from three neighbors, the Animal Control Officer will issue a notice to abate the nuisance. You can comply in a variety of ways: by placing the dog inside, by fitting it with a muzzle or a barking collar, or, if all else fails, by relocating it. Keep in mind, as a service to your neighbors that, even if the dog is confined to your property, the noise that it makes is not.
Scoop that Poop!
If your dog defecates anywhere other than on your property, the law requires that you remove the excrement within 5 minutes (SPCC 5.42). A fine of up to $50 can be imposed for violations. Have your pooper scooper or a small produce bag with you whenever you go out. You would not want to step in it. No one else would either. The Pasadena Humane Society is handling all animal control needs. They can be contacted at (626) 792-7151.
Dog Bites
View information on preventing dog bites provided by American Veterinary Medical Association.