Mandatory Spay/Neuter bill

Thanks Carole!
I figured you were busy yesterday or you would have posted the same ;) .

The issue isn't about the fines, those are in place in many areas, and are toothless.

The fact is when you get down to it, there is not the manpower needed to enforce a law of this sweeping magnitude. Laws are for the honest, as the dishonest will find a way around them.

It is an issue that will only be fixed with education, determination and the ability of people willing to get involved. If you see 25 dogs in a yard and hear pups all the time make a call. Be willing to get involved, donate to TNR programs even if its only your time or a 10.00 bill.

Transport animals when possible, be willing to actively educate and host seminars, if there aren't any then create them. Knock on vets doors and ask for them to donate time for low cost clinics, for vaccinations and neuterings, don't let one No discourage you from asking others.

If these kinds of grass root measures were taken up, in earnest and with commitment, then we could change a lot, and help shut down many BYBs.

Just my thoughts

Kym

I agree with this bill wholeheartedly. The shelters are brimming with unwanted animals as it is. This could be the beginning of the end to all these poor dogs being euthanized. As for exempting purebreds, I don't approve unless they have been thoroughly tested and proven to be a notable breeding dog. There are just as many purebreds in shelters that have been put there by BYB. I am hoping that this would be the start of a great saving factor for al the street dogs out there.

Even if only law-abiding people abide by this, and even if it's only sporadically enforced, it's SOMETHING. It WILL put a dent in the overpopulation problem, even if it's a small one at first.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CathyBogart

Even if only law-abiding people abide by this, and even if it's only sporadically enforced, it's SOMETHING. It WILL put a dent in the overpopulation problem, even if it's a small one at first.

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I agree Cathy, but we also need to supplement it. I fear it doesn't have enough teeth to make it truly viable, and I fear that like many laws of this type , it will be a year or so of diligence, and that back to the same old same old, due to burnout, and just not enough manpower to enforce it :(

It IS a start though :)

Indeed, this will become a toothless law, just as licensing has. Look at it. Nobody gets in trouble for an unlicensed animal (unless, of course, you have a neighbor with a vendetta). Police are far too busy with crime control. Ergo, nobody even cares about licensing anymore. I really think this bill is just another version of licensing. The solution is not to create alternate options and hope that one that "works". The solution is to actually *enforce* existing laws, and, if deemed necessary, tweak them a bit.

I'm not sure if every veterinarian in CA does this (or if it's the law), but my vet notifies the county if your cat/dog is not licensed. The county sends you a license application form, and you either return it with a check or pay a hefty fine a few days later. If this isn't the law, they better make sure it is. Secondly, I believe they should have a "rebate" of sorts. If your animal is not altered, you pay the fees for an intact pet, but if you can provide proof of spay/neutering to your current veterinarian, you are given a "rebate". For example, I think the fee for an altered pet is $40. An unaltered pet is around $100. If you speuter that pet, you receive $60 back. The license for altered pets should be permanent (a one time fee) whereas the fee for intact pets needs yearly renewal. There should be appropriate exemptions, of course, for pets with health problems. And I don't know the regulations for kennel license, but THAT is what we should focus on. We should not punish the entire population for a couple unscrupulous puppy millers.

Giselle...I have never had a vet ask me if my dogs are licensed...of course they are but I have never been asked.

I have a friend that moved into a new subdivision and animal control went door to door to make sure the animals were licensed.

Caseysmom, I think the secretary is in charge of noting if an animal is or isn't licensed via the tags. I suppose if your animal doesn't have a tag, they'll ask for proof or just write your name down. When we first got Lucky, he didn't have a license and we received a notice from the county a few days afterward. I really don't think licensing has a lot of "teeth" over here =/ The police is sooo preoccupied with crime control, it really has no time to go door to door. I know a lot of people whose dogs aren't licensed because they see no purpose to it and nobody has ever asked them to. I think the importance of education was brought up earlier, and I have to agree. Education is probably the only solution that we can all agree on :)