CITY MAY REQUIRE DOGS BE FIXED, MICROCHIPPED.

Byline: PATRICIA FARRELL AIDEM Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- The city is weighing a new law that would require pet owners to have their dogs spayed or neutered and implanted with microchips that hold identification data.

A proposed ordinance set for review Tuesday by the Santa Clarita City Council would mirror one that Los Angeles County approved this year for unincorporated areas including Castaic and Stevenson Ranch.

If approved, the city would require that all dogs older than 4 months be spayed or neutered. Exceptions would be allowed for dogs whose health would be jeopardized by the procedure, guide dogs, show dogs or those used for breeding. Also at 4 months, a tiny microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, would be implanted free and contain ownership information.

The procedure is nonsurgical, requires no anesthetic and has proven effective in cases where traditional tags have been lost or damaged, officials with the county Department of Animal Care and Control said. Microchips have embedded code numbers that can be read with hand-held scanners.

The city, which contracts with the county for animal care, likely would raise dog license fees as part of the program. Licenses for unaltered dogs would go from $30 to $60, and from $15 to $20 for altered pets. Revenue would help cover cost increases.

Special permits for unaltered dogs could be rescinded if the dogs are found running wild, if they're considered dangerous, if female dogs have more than one litter per year or five in a lifetime, or if the owner violates any requirements.

IF YOU GO

The Santa Clarita City Council will meet at 6 p.m. in City Hall council chambers, 23920 Valencia Blvd.

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IF YOU GO (see text)