If you missed our earlier post, there are four new pet related laws that are going into effect on January 1st, 2017. To read about the first law, which allows individuals to rescue animals left in cars when the temperature is dangerous, whether too hot or too cold, just click here!
The second new law is really a no-brainer and I honestly can't believe it hasn't been in place before now!
California Pet Kennels and Pet Hotels Will Now be Regulated
Wait...they weren't being regulated already? I know for a fact that Animal Control, whether City or County if you are in the Los Angeles area, has requirements for kennels and they are inspected on a regular basis. So what is this new law about? Well, I went digging and found the answers. You can read the full text of the bill here.
According to the State Humane Association of California, as quoted in the Senate Rules Committee in the Senate Floor Analysis of Bill SB945, "Pet owners who board their pets may be unaware that California law does not establish minimum standards of care for conditions at pet boarding facilities such as quantity of food and water, limitations on the time pets spend in cages, veterinary care, or emergency evacuation plans." WHAT?
Of course I thought these things were covered! Didn't you? Well, now they will be. Here is just some of what the bill covers:
"Ensuring that the entire pet boarding facility, including all equipment therein, is structurally sound and maintained in good repair."
"Ensuring the containment of pets within the pet boarding facility, and, in the event that a pet escapes, making reasonable efforts to immediately capture the escaped pet." And "If an escaped pet has not been captured despite reasonable efforts, ensuring that all material facts regarding the pet’s escape are reported to the local agency for animal control and to the owner."
"Maintaining an area for isolating sick pets from healthy pets." And "Ensure that the owner of a pet is notified immediately that his or her pet is sick or injured unless the owner has indicated in writing that notification of any, or a particular, type of illness or injury is not required."
"A pet may be contained in a temporary enclosure for a period not to exceed 4 hours during the day and 12 hours at night or the length of time that is humane for that particular pet, whichever is less. However, the pet shall remain outside the temporary enclosure for no less than the amount of time needed for the pet to eliminate its waste."
"As needed to ensure the comfort and well-being of the pet, provide heating, cooling, lighting, ventilation, shade, and protection from the elements, including, but not limited to, the sun, wind, rain, and snow."
"Provide each pet daily with enrichment sufficient to maintain the behavioral health of the pet." (YAY!! But what is the definition of "sufficient" in this case?)
The owners of the pet will be provided with a written document containing - "(1) Days and times during which the pet boarding facility permits pets to be dropped off and picked up. (2) Days and times during which personnel are onsite. (3) The square footage of the permanent or fixed and temporary enclosures in which the species of pet that the owner is boarding is customarily contained. (4) General observation practices during each 24-hour period for the species of pet that the owner is boarding is customarily observed by personnel. (5) The pet boarding facility’s customary daily activity schedule for the species of pet that the owner is boarding." OK...so these are all good things. And I have to believe that most kennels, hotels and daycares were already doing most of these things. But at least now we will know it's being regulated! In the next post tomorrow, we'll talk about the last two laws, which are far simpler, but no less important!