Posted on 02/26/2008 7:15:03 PM PST by Awestruck
LOS ANGELES - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Tuesday signed one of the nation's toughest laws on pet sterilization, requiring most dogs and cats to be spayed or neutered by the time they are 4 months old.
The ordinance is aimed at reducing and eventually eliminating the thousands of euthanizations conducted in Los Angeles' animal shelters every year.
"We will, sooner rather than later, become a no-kill city and this is the greatest step in that direction," Councilman Tony Cardenas said as he held a kitten at a City Hall news conference.
The ordinance does exempt some animals, including those that have competed in shows or sporting competitions, guide dogs, animals used by police agencies and those belonging to professional breeders.
The average pet owner, however, must have their dog or cat spayed or neutered by the time it reaches 4 months of age (as late as 6 months with a letter from a veterinarian).
First-time offenders will receive information on subsidized sterilization services and be given an additional 60 days. If they still fail to comply they could be fined $100 and ordered to serve eight hours of community service. A subsequent offense could result in a $500 fine or 40 hours of community service.
Many states require animals adopted from shelters to be sterilized, and New York City requires the same for animals bought from pet shops, but restrictions such as Los Angeles' are rare. A 2006 Rhode Island law requires most cats to be sterilized.
A measure similar to Los Angeles' passed the California Assembly last year but did not gain state Senate support.
Los Angeles animal shelters took in 50,000 cats and dogs last year and euthanized approximately 15,000 at a cost of $2 million, according to city officials.
Bob Barker, the retired game-show host who famously ended every "Price is Right" show with a call for sterilizing pets, pushed for the law's adoption and was among those at Tuesday's news conference.
"The next time that you hear me say, 'Help control the pet population, have your pet spayed or neutered,' I can add, 'It's the law in Los Angeles,'" a jubilant Barker said.
thank you so much.
This government intrusion.........will it ever end?!
1) Pad pockets of vetrenarians.
2) Put breeders out of business.
3) Sorry if you’re pet is in the 1% that dies from complications.
4) F your constitutional right to property.
So, how long til they order sterilization of those genetically predisposed to birthing less-than-perfect children?
Because, in your opinion, they are somehow equal?
Because in mine, they are not and I get no pleasure paying taxes to feed and care for animals that no one wants. And since animals are most assuredly not people, it is not the same thing when we sterilize them. We have dominion over the animals, we are their keepers.
There are many working dogs used in public service that are deliberately not pure bred. This will be very bad for those types.
Owning a dog is not prima facae evidence that the animal is breeding out of control, your global assumption notwithstanding. This is a taking of private property.
I own a dog that is not pure bred, simply because this type is not a recognized breed, nor do its fans want it to be. Dutch Shepherds are very rare, highly prized, very expensive, and not pure-bred. My dog would face this law.
This law precludes developing such breeds. It rewards the Tijuana puppy mills at the expense of the smaller, high quality breeder (which is what this is really about IMO). It is physically harmful to the skeletal development of male dogs. Sure there are people who are irresponsible, but the city already has leash laws it doesn't enforce. If the dog is loose the city has every right to capture and euthanize it because that IS prima facae evidence of an irresponsible owner.
There is also some controversy about the proper time to spay or neuter a pet. Male cats' musculoskeletal development, as another poster has pointed out, will be different when they are intact versus neutered. There is also some question of whether a male cat will be more prone to urinary tract problems later on if he is neutered so young.
A lot of cat breeders will have the kitten spayed or neutered by four months, if the animal is being sold as a pet.
Be careful what you wish for... a lot of times, the "answer" is not so simple as passing another law. This might make some people feel good about themselves because the law passed, but it might backfire and result in more dumpings of pets.
Sowell’s boook, Paved with Good Intentions comes to mind. Leftist fascist policies.
This is one California law I agree with, although enforcement is gonna be a real booger. I realize there will be the requisite number of kneejerk responses about how it’s none of the government’s business, but I also bet 99% of the people taking that position have no idea what goes on in the animal shelters of this country.
Now it would sure be nice if California gave a happy damn about all the human babies being slaughtered in the state on a daily basis.
MM (in TX)
I like Mutt dogs, they are less prone to hereditary problems and have traits of their different parent strains.
What are they going to do about Calico Cats, they aren’t a breed, right?
What if you want to breed your dog?
I didn’t read the article but know the feral animal problem, cats especially, is terrible.
>There are many working dogs used in public service that are deliberately not pure bred. This will be very bad for those types.<
Keep in mind also, that neutering a male dog that’s used for guard work diminishes the dog’s effectiveness in his work.
That's true of virtually all forms of work, even S&R, which can take a ton of drive and strength.
Why sterilize both sexes when sterilization of ONLY ONE OF THE SEXES is necessary to preclude successful breeding?
Where have you been?
Ashley outcry
American history of Eugenics (wikipedia)
Great! Now look for the price of shampoo to skyrocket! ;)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.