does animal control come knocking?

[bebeyorkie]

Originally Posted by SweetViolet

I think these kinds of limits are just wrong. There are people with just one animal who don't take care of it properly...and I have had as many as 16 dogs (3 adults and a litter of 13 puppies) at a time and everything was fine.

Also, I think the size of the property should be taken into consideration. My present home city was proposing a limit of 4 dogs and the citizens made such an uproar that the whole concept was dropped. Why should I, who has 1/3 of an acre (surrounded by masonry walls), have the same limit as someone who lives in a one-bedroom condo, assuming we both take equally good care of our pets?

I think Animal Control should mind their own business...that business being picking up strays and responding to complaints from citizens, not snooping on private property, breaking and entering, and stealing people's pets and holding them for ransom!

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by SweetViolet

I used to live in Silicon Valley. The city I lived in had a two dog limit, and I had three dogs (the third I had rescued). I came home from work one day and found the padlock to the gate to my back yard had been cut and my dogs missing.

Random visit from animal control.

I had to pay a fine and sell one of my dogs (all AKC Collies).

I think this is fundamentally wrong. That Animal Control officer had to walk up a long driveway, through my carport, and look over a 6 foot redwood fence. Then he had to use bolt-cutters to break my padlock. I consider that trespass and breaking and entering. Then he, essentially, stole my dogs and his employer held them for ransom, threatening to kill them.

What pissed me off the most is that my backyard neighbour had a pit bull that kept digging under the fence and getting into my yard and menacing my dogs and Animal Control wouldn't do anything about it because the pit bull wasn't digging out and going into the public streets.

My best advice is to keep the dogs inside the house and don't let more than two or three outside at a time. Those nosy SOBs need a search warrant to go into your house! (Although why they didn't need one to go into my back yard is beyond me!)

I am so sorry this happened to you. In my opinion, I don't think animal control is willing to do random checks. They would either have to have more staff to be able to do random checks and all other things animal control has on its plate, or pay it's employees extra money. Either way, that's more money for it's budget. That would mean raising taxes and nobody will be happy. Every instance that I've heard of animal control going into someone's home is because of a complaint. They don't have to disclose who complains to prevent a person from retaliating.
I think someone was upset with you in some way, and I doubt that it was with the way you treated your pups. At least I know this is true for Los Angeles, they don't have money to enforce the spay/neuter law, why would they do random checks for licensing?????

[PennysMum]

They do random checks here. I've even heard some of my neighbors say that they cruise the dog park and will randomly approach people to check the status of the dog's tags.

I find it kind of disgusting, especially since the animal control here had complaints leveled against them for not taking care of the animals that they had impounded. They have time to harass owners, but not enough time to clean their kennels and keep the animals fed and watered, apparently.

[Ellie May]

In some areas, yes, they do go door to door and check.
They don't here as far as I know.

[yorkiekist]

Animal control cant come into your home unless they are accompanied by police with a search warrant. Do not open the door and let them see inside your home or give them any information about you, your children or your dogs. Have a pen and paper ready, grab it and walk out-side and lock your door behind you. Write down their names, badge #, who they work for and the license plate #. After they are off of your property, tell them that they are not allowed on your property and you will call the police if they come back as they are trespassing. Remember DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFO!!

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by yorkiekist

Animal control cant come into your home unless they are accompanied by police with a search warrant. Do not open the door and let them see inside your home or give them any information about you, your children or your dogs. Have a pen and paper ready, grab it and walk out-side and lock your door behind you. Write down their names, badge #, who they work for and the license plate #. After they are off of your property, tell them that they are not allowed on your property and you will call the police if they come back as they are trespassing. Remember DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFO!!

In most areas, Animal Control have full police powers.

[hugz4all4]

I live in upstate NY and yes animal control comes around every 2 years making sure that every dog in the household has been vaxed for rabies and has a license. If the animals arent then they will give you time to take care of it or you get a nasty fine. I dont think that we have a animal limit here..

[yorkiekist]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

In most areas, Animal Control have full police powers.

Please correct me if I am wrong. They still need a search warrant to enter your home. If you let them come in, then you have just lost your rights.

[mscat]

I thought animal control can come knocking on a door if there is a complaint. In california getting a dog a liecence only takes proof of the rabies shot and a small fee. They have to be strict because of the people who are animal hoarders. And the people who do not propperly take care of there pets. If the animals are being well cared for then there is no problem.

[mimimomo]

Animal control came to my house & checked if my Dobi was licensed. I think someone complained because he used to bark ALOT (Lex, R.I.P).
If your furbabies stay indoors, I think you'll be fine (since there's a limit of 3 dogs in W. Covina). I live in Temple City, don't know what the limit is here...

[Yorkiedaze]

PLEASE, you guys, if anyone comes to your door saying they are animal control, take their name, excuse yourself for a minute, shut and lock the door and call the office to see if they sent this person to your house. Of course that is with anyone. If they ever want to look inside your house for any reason, just say no, unless they have a warrent. Please don't let strangers in your house.
If you don't have a county license for each dog they can fine you so much per year that you have had the dog/s.

[lil fu fu girl]

Originally Posted by SweetViolet

I used to live in Silicon Valley. The city I lived in had a two dog limit, and I had three dogs (the third I had rescued). I came home from work one day and found the padlock to the gate to my back yard had been cut and my dogs missing.

Random visit from animal control.

I had to pay a fine and sell one of my dogs (all AKC Collies).

I think this is fundamentally wrong. That Animal Control officer had to walk up a long driveway, through my carport, and look over a 6 foot redwood fence. Then he had to use bolt-cutters to break my padlock. I consider that trespass and breaking and entering. Then he, essentially, stole my dogs and his employer held them for ransom, threatening to kill them.

What pissed me off the most is that my backyard neighbour had a pit bull that kept digging under the fence and getting into my yard and menacing my dogs and Animal Control wouldn't do anything about it because the pit bull wasn't digging out and going into the public streets.

My best advice is to keep the dogs inside the house and don't let more than two or three outside at a time. Those nosy SOBs need a search warrant to go into your house! (Although why they didn't need one to go into my back yard is beyond me!)

Unbelievable! Bureaucracy never ceases to amaze, or should I say stun me.

[DukesMommy]

I'm in Norhern CA and have never had nor seen animal control just show up at someones door to check on them. Usually around here the only way they show up is if someone called to complain.

I would think, with how things are going right now, they wouldn't be doing something to try to gain any more animals with the amount that has been going into shelters already.

[Miao]

About 20 years ago, when we didn't renew our dog's license with the city, someone came knocking on the door when no one was home to answer except for the dog himself. They had proceeded to slip into our mail a card warning us to renew the license within x period of time, or else.

I doubt they came due to neighbourhood complaints though he used to do his howl whenever the last person has left the house. This generally lasted for the first 5-10 minutes.

About 5-8 years ago (can't remember exactly), someone had gone by my then boyfriend's family's place. His sister answered the door. He asked specifically for our dog who was originally registered to that address when we first got her and got a license from the city for a couple of years. After having not renewed for a couple of years after the last, I guess that's when they decided to make their rounds. I'm not sure if any attempts were made previously, but of course, there was never a dog around to "answer the door" when we weren't around because we never left her there when we weren't. This time around it definitely was NOT due to any sort of complaints. Our girl doesn't bark and scream and cry when left alone and there isn't a stinky yard for any one to complain about smells. We walked her and picked up after her. His sister said quite honestly to the person, "[insert pet name here] is no longer with us." That is the truth no matter what it had implied since we hadn't been staying there for at least 2 years at the time.

So it's not always for "animal control" or for "checking on humane living conditions"... in the end, a lot of times, it's all about the $_$.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by Miao

So it's not always for "animal control" or for "checking on humane living conditions"... in the end, a lot of times, it's all about the $.

Good point