Council moves to make more LA rentals pet-friendly as shelters overflow
The City Council voted unanimously on three motions aimed at crowded animal shelters, including a possible rule limiting breed and size limits on pets in private rentals.
By LA This Weekend Team · November 9, 20260 views
The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously on Friday, Nov. 6, on three motions meant to slow the number of dogs and cats landing in the city's crowded animal shelters, City News Service reported, as summarized by The Los Angeles Herald. The motions call for more animal control officers, broader rights for renters to keep their pets and more money for spaying and neutering.
What to know
- A motion from Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez asks housing and animal services officials to report within 90 days on ways to expand pet-friendly housing. The council also asked the city attorney to draft a possible ordinance reducing or removing breed, weight and size limits on pets in housing that does not receive public funding.
- Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez's motions ask how many animal control officers the city has, with a goal of funding more, including overnight coverage. Her motion notes Skid Row has only one dedicated animal officer.
- The city budgeted $6.5 million for spay and neuter work in fiscal 2026-27, up from $4.75 million the year before, City News Service reported.
- The votes follow City Controller Kenneth Mejia's Oct. 21 audit. It found that from fiscal 2021 through 2025, the city's dog population averaged 35% over kennel capacity and the cat population 131% over, the Herald reported.
- None of the votes changes policy yet. Each asks city departments to come back with reports.
Our take
Anyone who has hunted for an apartment in LA with a big dog knows how fast the listings disappear. If the city follows through, more renters could keep their pets instead of surrendering them, which is a big part of why shelters are full. It is still early, and landlords will have a say. Have you had to give up a pet, or pass on a place, because of a building's pet rules? Tell us your story.
Sources
What do you think? Tell us in the comments below, or post about it on the community board.
LA This Weekend Team