Update June 8, 2011: Yesterday the Los Angeles City Council approved a motion submitted by Council member Paul Koretz to study the feasibility of banning (1) sales of commercially bred dogs, cats and rabbits and (2) puppy, kitten, chicken and rabbit mills. Specifically, the proposal involves:

    Establishing a ban on the sale of dogs, cats, chickens and rabbits within the city limits that have been bred in commercial facilities;

    Creating a program that would allow the city animal shelter to work with licensed pet stores to make shelter animals available for adoption at those stores;

    Establishing a program under which the city animal shelter identifies stores that excel in meeting rigorous humane requirements and conditions in the kenneling and sale of animals consistent with all City, state and federal laws, or which do not sell live animals; and

    Prohibiting the operation of puppy, kitten, chicken and rabbit mills within the city limits. 

For puppies at least, more than 90% sold in pet stores, for example, come from puppy mills.

More than 55,000 animals were taken in by Los Angeles City animal services in 2010. General Manager Brenda Barnette said on average the city spends $402 for impoundment per dog and about $281 per cat.

For more on U.S. cities that have banned pet store sales of dogs or cats and other efforts to shut down outlets for sales of companion animals by mills and backyard breeders. Take a look at El Paso's 2010 law that eliminates profit for pet stores selling dogs and cats that are less than a year old. And in 2010 Vancouver became the first Canadian city to ban pet store sales of dogs and cats.

New Los Angeles County laws 

In March, 2011 new laws that apply to unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County were adopted and now prohibit commercial dog breeders from breeding dogs less than 1 year of age. Other new requirements for commercial dog breeders:

Breeders that are supposed to have USDA licenses must comply with federal law and all breeders must follow applicable state and local laws. Veterinary and health officials can be called in to review licensing or the operation of a commercial breeder if there are animal or public health concerns.

The breeder's license will note the number of dogs and size category, whether 1-20 lbs, 21-50 lbs., 51-100 lbs. or 100 + lbs. A new license application and inspection is required for changes in size category. There are staffing requirements depending on the number of dogs held at the facility.  Pregnant females are to be separated at least 3 days before they give birth. Nesting or whelping boxes must be provided for mom and their puppies. Puppies must be kept at the facility until they are at least eight weeks old. Dogs 4 mos of age or older must be tattooed or micro-chipped. There are also new requirements for record keeping that is made available to purchasers.

Breeders with more than 50 breeding dogs are subject to more regulation including multiple inspections each year depending on the number of dogs. Other requirements for breeders with 50 + dogs include an approved medical program with annual veterinary exams and adequate staffing 18 hours a day with contact information for a responsible person always available.

Other restrictions can be placed on a license including a limit on the number of animals that can be kept at a breeder's facility.

Knowingly providing false records or  information relating to an animal is a misdemeanor.  

A first violation of laws for breeders is an infraction with a fine up to $250. A failure to comply after 30 days is a second violation as is a second violation within a year. A second and subsequent violation is a misdemeanor can mean a fine up to $1,000 and 6 months in jail. A civil injunction can also be obtained to enforce these provisions.

New laws for all animal owners and animal facilities were also approved by the county at that time:

Water must be "potable" (You would think that would be implicit but apparently not for some breeders at least)

Food and water must be "free from debris" and "readily accessible and available" as often as the animal's feeding habits require.

Animals must be groomed and "kept in a manner which is not injurious to their health". Enclosures and buildings where animals are kept must be cleaned "to control odors" and "prevent the spread of disease".     

Instead of simply requiring "every reasonable precaution" against abuse, the new law prohibits neglect as well as abuse, mistreatment, teasing, torment, annoyance or other otherwise inflicting suffering on an animal.

The city has adopted the state anti-tethering law which prohibits tethering or chaining of dogs with some exceptions such as for up to 3 hours while owners are completing temporary tasks.  CA Health and Safety Code Sec. 122335

Animal facilities must have smoke alarms and fire suppression equipment.

Animal facilities can only use wire flooring for enclosures temporarily though it is not clear how long that could be. Cages can be stacked two high and then only if waste cannot fall through the floor on top of animals in the first level of crates and the animals cannot have access to each other.

In some instances the changes appear to exchange one vague requirement for another. For example, the ordinance requiring "proper" exercise was amended to "appropriate" exercise. "Proper" rest for working animals was amended to require "adequate" rest.

Increased record keeping for facilities including tracking the number of animals that die each year and more identifying information like license numbers, tattoos and microchip numbers.

Breeder information must be posted "conspicuously" on the "cages" of dogs and cats for sale to the public. Advertisements for the sale of dogs or cats must contain the facility's license and the breeder license number.