Lakewood’s animal care provider is the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA). SEAACA’s service number is 562-803-3301. The shelter is at 9777 SEAACA Street in Downey. SEAACA handles pet licensing, adoptions, collection of dead or injured animals, and stray animal pick up.

The SEAACA animal shelter is open Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A veterinarian clinic for pet shots is available Tuesday through Friday from 2:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 3:00 p.m.

All dog and cat licenses are issued by SEAACA. The license fee for an unaltered dog is $28 a year. Licenses for altered dogs are $14 a year. (Licenses for cats are available, but are not required.)

Owners who fail to relicense their dog annually must pay a late fee.

Lakewood's annual Bow-Wow and Meow pet clinics offer low cost rabies vaccinations and the opportunity to relicense dogs. For more information, call 562-866-9771, extension 2140.

Pet policies

• City ordinances permit no more than two dogs and no more than two cats per household.
• Lakewood requires dog owners to license their pet (four months old or older) within 60 days of getting a dog or moving to Lakewood.
• Before a license is issued, dogs must have a valid rabies vaccination certificate good for the term of the license.

 The West Nile Virus has been found in dead birds in Long Beach and Lakewood (September 2004) and some cases of West Nile disease have been reported in southern California (September 2004).

The disease can produce mild to moderate flu-like symptoms.  Most of those infected do not realize they have the disease, which passes without significant health impacts among otherwise healthy individuals.

For information on the West Nile Virus and disease prevention, call the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at 562-944-9656.

Q. What is the basic transmission cycle?

A. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which may circulate the virus in their blood for a few days.  Infected mosquitoes can then transmit West Nile virus to humans and animals while biting to take blood.  The virus is located in the mosquito's salivary glands.  During blood feeding, the virus may be injected into the animal or human, where it may multiply, possibly causing illness.

Q. If I live in an area where birds or mosquitoes with West Nile virus have been reported and a mosquito bites me, am I likely to get sick?

A. No. Even in areas where the virus is circulating, very few mosquitoes are infected with the virus. Even if the mosquito is infected, less than 1% of people who get bitten and become infected will get severely ill.  The chances you will become severely ill from any one mosquito bite are extremely small.

Q. What can I do to reduce my risk of becoming infected with West Nile virus?

A. There are several commonsense steps you can take:

• Stay indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors.
• Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing.
• Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin. An effective repellent will contain up to 35% DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). DEET in high concentrations (greater than 35%) provides no additional protection. Repellents may irritate the eyes and mouth, so avoid applying repellent to the hands of children. Whenever you use an insecticide or insect repellent, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's DIRECTIONS FOR USE, as printed on the product.
• Install or repair window and door screens so that mosquitoes cannot get indoors.

http://www.glacvcd.org/