City Council gives initial approval to tougher spay-and-neuter rules after hours of testimony

The Los Angeles City Council voted 10-3 on first reading Tuesday to approve amendments to two existing local animal-control ordinances that raise fees for unaltered pets and for breeder permits and add staged civil penalties meant to drive compliance.

The council ction came after a lengthy public hearing in which dozens of speakers, including animal-welfare groups, veterinarians and breeder organizations, addressed the chamber. Pam Wilkinson, who identified herself as a 20-year Los Angeles resident, told the council she collected signatures across the city and said residents see "a public safety hazard" from unsterilized animals and support the ordinance. "They want the city to go to the source of the problem, which is spay and neuter," Wilkinson said.

The measure amends the city—reeders-permit law (identified in the discussion as section 53.15.2) and the city og-licensing provisions. The city epartment and commission package raised the annual dog license for an unaltered animal to $100 and proposed a $100 breeders permit for those breeding for sale. Officials described the fee as a "threshold" intended to make the one-time cost of sterilization comparatively cheaper for most owners. Dan Knapp, general manager of the Animal Regulation Department, summarized the commission's position: the changes "are…