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Manhattan Beach council adopts first reading of ordinance to modernize dog licensing, adds vet-reporting option
Summary
Council approved first reading of Ordinance No. 25-0006 to change dog-license periods from a fixed September-to-September term to rolling license terms tied to rabies vaccination dates, introduce lifetime tags, and allow veterinary reporting to improve compliance; councilors debated privacy and implementation logistics before passing the measure 4–1.
The Manhattan Beach City Council voted to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 25‑0006, updating the city’s dog-licensing program to tie license periods to individual rabies-vaccination dates, create a lifetime dog tag, and authorize a veterinary reporting program designed to identify vaccinated but unlicensed animals.
City Manager Talene Mirza Khanian announced the proposed changes and Finance Director Libby Brethower explained staff expects the updates to improve customer service and compliance. Brethower said the city currently has about 1,700 active dog licenses and included a $20,000 allocation in the recently adopted budget for new licensing software to implement a rolling-license system and a single lifetime tag per animal.
Supporters said the changes would reduce administrative burden and make it easier for residents to keep pets licensed. “It will be easier to renew and we’ll be able to reach out to people whose pets are vaccinated but not licensed,” Brethower said.
Opponents raised privacy and data-sharing concerns. Council Member Franklin (speaker 10) said requiring veterinarians to share records could harm the veterinarian-client relationship and urged exploring alternatives. “I’m uncomfortable going to licensed professionals and asking for their database,” Franklin said, adding that microchipping and outreach might be better tools for encouraging compliance.
Staff responded that the veterinary-reporting program is in use in many Los Angeles County cities to increase vaccinations and licensing compliance and that outreach to local veterinarians and residents would accompany any code change. The city will start public outreach and vendor work if council adopts the ordinance at second reading.
The council voted 4–1 on the first reading. The ordinance was read into the record as Ordinance No. 25‑0006 and will return for second reading and adoption at a future meeting.
