California AB1634 Mandatory Spay/Neuter (MSN)

[SemaviLady]

Apparently, Levine introduced that amendment so that California won't be devoid of mutts.

"It's okay guys! Breed one litter per family and we won't have a surplus of kittens or dogs! That's how it works, don'tcha know?"

Politics. Psch.

Agreed. FWIW, I don't think he and Mancuso wanted that in the bill, but they did promise one of the senators to work something in to address an issue she had with the bill.

It is quite true, especially for Family owners of larger breeds which have the bigger litters, that often they cannot find enough homes when they get a dozen pups that start eating them out of house and home by the time the cuties are four months and older!

Small dogs are much easier to place and shelters actually have a system to try and supply the demand for small dogs. They can sell small dogs and cute puppies of breeds in demand. The income from this can sometimes be used by the shelter to support the more problematic loads they have.

I am aware from other forums that owners of pure and mixed breed small dogs that have 'extra pups' usually get some cash by selling these to local pet stores. (which usually will advertise their pups as not being from puppy mills and are from local breeders).

My objection to that amendment included the fact that such litters would be coming from immature dogs, that could not be officially cleared for health issues because the one year permit would not allow the dog to become mature enough to be evaluated. Sure, few families even know about health testing.

So the whole matter doesn't help with education, responsibility nor healthy pets.

Now here is some education from research by National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy.

Top 10 Reasons for Relinquishment*

Dogs:
1. Moving (7%)
2. Landlord not allowing pet (6%)
3. Too many animals in household (4%)
4. Cost of pet maintenance (5%)
5. Owner having personal problems (4%)
6. Inadequate facilities (4%)
7. No homes available for litter mates (3%) --Breeding?
8. Having no time for pet (4%)
9. Pet illness(es) (4%)
10. Biting (3%)

Cats:
1. Moving (8%)
2. Landlord not allowing pet (6%)
3. Too many animals in household (11%)
4. Cost of pet maintenance (6%)
5. Owner having personal problems (4%)
6. Inadequate facilities (2%)
7. No homes available for litter mates (6%) --Breeding?
8. Allergies in family (8%)
9. House soiling (5%)
10. Incompatibility with other pets (2%)

Specially trained researchers completed confidential individual interviews with pet owners who were relinquishing their dogs or cats to animal shelters. Pet owners were allowed to give up to five reasons for relinquishment. Interviewers did not, however, prioritize the responses. They simply recorded them in the order stated.

Characteristics of Pets Being Relinquished

In addition to the reasons for relinquishment, the study collected data on the pets being relinquished. According to the study: The majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7%) and cats (40.3%) were between 5 months and 3 years of age.

The majority of dogs (37.1 %) and cats (30.2) had been owned from 7 months to 1 year. Approximately half of the pets (42.8% of dogs; 50.8% of cats) surrendered were not neutered. Many of the pets relinquished (33% of dogs; 46.9% of cats) had not been to a veterinarian.

Animals acquired from friends were relinquished in higher numbers (31.4% of dogs; 33.2% of cats) than from any other source.

Close to equal numbers of male and female dogs and cats were surrendered.

Most dogs (96%) had not received any obedience training.

Characteristics of Pet Owners Surrendering Pets

During the confidential interviews, researchers also gathered data on the people surrendering the pets. "Owners represented a broad range of age, ethnicity, education, and income level, indicating continued efforts will need to reach wide and far into communities across the country," say Dr. Mo Salman, the article's senior author.

The major reasons for pets being in the shelter is NOT Overpopulation, but it is due to issues of convenience. These issues all need to be addressed as they are.

Profiling every situation as having one cause is about the same as deciding that all HUMAN children should be "neutered" to solve the problems we have of world hunger, violence and crime.

Yes, that solution would work, but you won't make many friends.