Temple City council adopts ordinance adding countyanimal-control rules for potentially dangerous and vicious dogs

Temple City's City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance July 21 amending chapter 6 of title 3 of the municipal code to adopt by reference provisions of Los Angeles County's Title 10 on animal control, including a defined process for designating animals as potentially dangerous or vicious.

Community Development Director Remus told the council the change formalizes a process already used in practice: Inland Valley Humane Society investigators would gather evidence, an independent hearing officer would take testimony and decide whether to label an animal potentially dangerous or vicious, and any party could then appeal the hearing officer's decision to superior court. "Because we're adopting the county code by reference, it gives us a clear process for the public and for staff to follow," Remus said during the public hearing.

The ordinance text discussed at the meeting says a "potentially dangerous" designation covers dogs that bite unprovoked or cause defensive reactions, while a "vicious" designation applies to animals that cause severe injury or death. Remus and Inland Valley staff described typical enforcement steps: on complaint, animal-control officers investigate, interview witnesses, inspect the site, and prepare a report to present at a hearing; hearing officers may impose conditions on keeping an animal, including taller or covered fencing, warning signs, additional insurance, mandatory leashing or muzzling off-property, and training or other conditions.

Nicole Bresciani of Inland Valley Humane Society said the hearing process can be faster and less costly than pursuing matters directly in superior court and that the humane society can sometimes secure stipulated orders avoiding protracted litigation. She said owners typically bear the administrative hearing cost, which "could be a couple hundred dollars or a couple thousand, depending on how long it lasts." Remus said the code allows seizure of animals in some severe cases but that removal decisions are made case by case depending on immediacy and severity of the risk.

Council member Sebelius moved to waive further reading and adopt "ordinance number 26 dash 10 89" as presented; Mayor Pro Tem Chen seconded and the clerk recorded a unanimous roll-call vote. Director Remus told the council the ordinance, if adopted tonight, would take effect 30 days after adoption.

The council did not add any amendments at the meeting; staff told residents the adopted county-standard procedures should provide clearer expectations for complainants and animal owners and give staff consistent enforcement tools going forward.