Costa Mesa may revise animal ordinances

Costa Mesa officials could make changes to city rules about animals, such as requiring dogs older than 4 months to be neutered or spayed and having pet owners register their cats.

The city’s animal ordinances haven’t been updated in at least 20 years, and animal control officers have suggested some revisions. The council will have a preliminary discussion Tuesday but won’t vote on any changes until a future meeting.

Proposed new rules would ban feeding of stray animals, animal sacrifice or slaughter, and harassment of police dogs. Possible new requirements include a permit to keep more than three animals and registering cats older than 4 months. New definitions for potentially dangerous animals and an appeal process for their owners also have been drafted.

Most of the suggestions came from animal control, except for the cat registration, which was suggested by Councilwoman Linda Dixon. The council will discuss the possible changes at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in conference room 1A at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. For more information, visit www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us.

— Alicia Robinson