Hermosa Beach, like nearby beach cities, has a limit of two dogs or cats per household.; Credit: JeffreyW/Flickr
Hermosa Beach has a limit of two cats or dogs per household, and it is enforcing it by ordering Betty Starr and Steve Fry to remove two of their four cats, citing the city's municipal code. Similar to various nearby cities such as Manhattan Beach and El Segundo, which limit cats and dogs at 5 and 3 per household, respectively, Hermosa Beach has instituted the ordinance because of the city's density.
City Manager Tom Bakaly says "The city has ordinances limiting the number of pets owned is to protect the owners', the neighbors', and animals' well-being." But Starr and Fry have compared the decision they now face to Sophie's Choice, because two of the four cats are elderly and will most likely be euthanized if taken to a shelter. The issue arose when one of Starr and Fry’s neighbors, Mike Balzer, repeatedly complained about the cat's defecating in his yard. Balzer told the city council, "I've attempted to deal with this for four years...You get to the point where you say: 'How long can you pick up someone's poop from their pets?' This is an owner issue. They're not taking care of their animals, they're just letting them go wherever they want."
What recourse do neighbors have when people keep more pets than legally allowed? Are there extenuating circumstances where residents have a legal basis for exceeding the limit?
Guests:
Tom Bakaly, City Manager, Hermosa Beach
Sharon Papa, Chief of Police, Hermosa Beach