Pet Sterilization Law

[mamamary]

FYI

I saw this in my paper this morning.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa yesterday 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 eventually eliminating the thousands of euthanizations conducted in Los Angeles' animal shelters every year.

 

[eclectics]

It's a good law, imho, but I wonder how it's going to be enforced. It's doubtful they have the man power to do it effectively, but I give them kudos for trying.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Most? How do they decide which animals get sterilized?

 

[mamamary]

Most? How do they decide which animals get sterilized?

? I don't know. That was the whole story. I'm in MD. Not sure why that blurb hit our paper. Maybe someone out in Los Angelos has more info.

 

[eclectics]

Most? How do they decide which animals get sterilized?

There are certain exceptions to the law, I believe, such as service animals, breeding purpose animals and show animals.

 

[Jennasis]

Sounds tough to enforce, but it's certainly a good idea.

 

[shirleyb]

Big Brother is alive and well....

 

[Charade]

Maybe they could do that to crack moms or any other women they determine unfit to reproduce.

But I agree, how are they gonna enforce this? Check Fido's undercarriage?

What a waste of time and money.

 

[MyManGoofy!]

You know - I don't know how they will enforce it either. But - even if it only gets those that don't want to break the law to spay/neuter their animals - it will help to put a dent in the unwanted animal population. And if - somehow there is an enforcement element - no matter how haphazard - again another dent.

 

[CathrynRose]

Sounds tough to enforce, but it's certainly a good idea.

Agreed.

Big Brother is alive and well....

Im sorry - but my butt. There is absoultley NO reason to have an un-altered animal, what so ever, at all.

Unless youre an educated breeder - and I mean educated, know what youre doing (and wishfull thinking, liscensed).

NOT altering a pet is cruel unless you intend on letting it - because an unaltered pet will *need* to, and will only think about such.

 

[mamamary]

Agreed.





Im sorry - but my butt. There is absoultley NO reason to have an un-altered animal, what so ever, at all.

Unless youre an educated breeder - and I mean educated, know what youre doing (and wishfull thinking, liscensed).

NOT altering a pet is cruel unless you intend on letting it - because an unaltered pet will *need* to, and will only think about such.

I agree with you CathryRose. And by the way, the pic you posted yest. of the pit bull at the shelter broke my heart.

 

[lillielil]

I support the law 100%. I'd even argue that there's no reason for show animals to be bred, since there are so many breeders who end up doing horrible damage by trying to get their animals to achieve some sort of absurd standard. Then again, I don't understand why show animals have to be intact at all.

Snip 'em, folks! Until every single animal has a loving home, there's no reason to make any more.

 

[CheshireVal]

Four months seems awfully young, though! I always heard that 6 months is the guideline....

 

[Hercules10]

Im sorry - but my butt. There is absoultley NO reason to have an un-altered animal, what so ever, at all.

Unless youre an educated breeder - and I mean educated, know what youre doing (and wishfull thinking, liscensed).

NOT altering a pet is cruel unless you intend on letting it - because an unaltered pet will *need* to, and will only think about such.

Your butt what?

Unless you can provide proof of your claim then its your opinion just llike the good folks that wrote the law. And whether I agree with them or not it's one thing to advise pet owners it's a good idea...it's an entirely other thing to say YOU WILL OR ELSE. Kinda along the same lines as trying to make certain breeds illegal to own because they're thought to be dangerous...

 

[okeydokey]

I think it is a good idea but don't see how to enforce it. It breaks my heart to think of all the animals put down every year at shelters, not to mention the cost to maintain those shelters. I wish people would voluntarily do the right thing with their pets, but I know some won't. They'll cite the expense as an excuse.

 

[MyManGoofy!]

Four months seems awfully young, though! I always heard that 6 months is the guideline....

Not at all. The standard here is by weight. They need to be 2 pounds or more. That usually occurs around 8 to 9 weeks of age.

Unless you can provide proof of your claim then its your opinion just llike the good folks that wrote the law. And whether I agree with them or not it's one thing to advise pet owners it's a good idea...it's an entirely other thing to say YOU WILL OR ELSE. Kinda along the same lines as trying to make certain breeds illegal to own because they're thought to be dangerous...

Maybe it is an opinion - but when you work in rescue and you see the never ending waves of unwanted animals day after day and it never seems to have an end. Maybe if you have not experienced the heartbreak of knowing that for every ONE that you save there are MANY more that will not be - you might have that opinion too. If forcing people to be more responsible with their pets is the only way to get a handle on it - then I am all for that.

 

[Hercules10]

Maybe it is an opinion - but when you work in rescue and you see the never ending waves of unwanted animals day after day and it never seems to have an end. Maybe if you have not experienced the heartbreak of knowing that for every ONE that you save there are MANY more that will not be - you might have that opinion too. If forcing people to be more responsible with their pets is the only way to get a handle on it - then I am all for that.

Let me emphasize...I am ALL for controlling the pet population. All mine (4 dogs and 2 cats so far) have been sterilized. I just don't like being TOLD to do something under penalty. And I'd be more interested in how they plan to enforce this on strays since they tend to play a large factor....

BTW...kudos to you for working at a rescue. Heartbreaking job I know but the rewards of a well place pet make it worth it!

 

[hiwaygal]

I support the law 100%. I'd even argue that there's no reason for show animals to be bred, since there are so many breeders who end up doing horrible damage by trying to get their animals to achieve some sort of absurd standard. Then again, I don't understand why show animals have to be intact at all.

Snip 'em, folks! Until every single animal has a loving home, there's no reason to make any more.

If you "snip 'em" all, eventually there will be no more dogs, so that isn't really the answer.

How will they enforce it? Most likely they will "ask" (i.e require) veterinarians to be a "police force" in registering which dogs have been altered and which haven't. They will use dog licenses to record the information with a locality.

While I agree with the spirit of the law, I don't agree with how it will be played out and enforced. Instead of having healthy, intact animals people will no longer take their animals to a veterinarian for regular health care (for fear of being reported) and we'll end up with a lot of sick intact animals.

 

[PaulaSB12]

FYI

I saw this in my paper this morning.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa yesterday 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 eventually eliminating the thousands of euthanizations conducted in Los Angeles' animal shelters every year.

My vet will not sterilize before 6 months. Why so young?

 

[Hercules10]

My vet will not sterilize before 6 months. Why so young?

Neither will my vet...especially small breeds for some reason.