To initiate the nuisance abatement process for a barking dog or vicious dog, the complainant should first contact the Long Beach Animal Shelter by phone at (562) 570-7387. Animal Care Services (ACS) will send a written notice of complaint to the owner of the nuisance animal asking for voluntarily compliance within (7-10) days.
2.Complainant Completes Written Complaint Form to File
If the owner of the animal fails to control the animal within (7-10) days, the complainant will be asked to complete a formal written complaint using the City of Long Beach Written Complaint & Investigation form.This will initiate a formal investigation by a Long Beach Animal Control Officer.
3.Owner of Nuisance Animal is Afforded Reasonable Time to Abate Nuisance
Upon recommendations of the Animal Control Officer, the owner of the nuisance animal will be given an appropriate amount of time to resolve the problem.If the problem persists, the complainant should contact Animal Care Services for a petition packet.
4.Complainant Requests Petition Packet and Collects Petition Signatures
Additional signatures by neighbors residing near the animal owner, who are willing to appear in court, will support the allegation of the nuisance.The petition signatures must be verified by the Animal Control Officer to proceed to an administrative hearing. Complainant and petitioners must keep a log giving the following information:
Dates the animal owner was contacted by complainant and owner reaction
Description of the nuisance (e.g. barking, howling, whining, aggression)
Dates, times and duration of the disturbance
5.Administrative Office Hearing Conducted by Animal Control
The administrative hearing is the last attempt to resolve the complaint outside the court system and outside involvement of the City Prosecutor.This involves an internal hearing with a reasonable time for the owner to resolve the nuisance.
6.City Prosecutor Reviews to Establish Evidence to File a Criminal Complaint
If the administrative hearing process does not resolve the problem, a case file will be prepared for presentation to the City Prosecutor’s Office for issuance of a complaint.The City Prosecutor will determine whether a criminal complaint is to be filed and petitioners may be needed to testify in court and present the case.A date for arraignment will be set. If a plea of “guilty” is entered, the defendant will be given a sentence at that time and witnesses will not be called to testify.If a plea of “not guilty” is entered, a trial date will be set, at which time witnesses may be called to testify.At this time, parties involved will need to contact City Prosecutor’s Office regarding trial dates and times.
