Pet Sterilization Becomes Law in LA (Cal.)

[Rene Allegrini]

Pet Sterilization Becomes Law in LA


LOS ANGELES (AP) — 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.


The Associated Press: Pet Sterilization Becomes Law in LA

[JoJo]

Isn't that just special. Now let's see what this "one of the nation's toughest laws on pet sterilization" really accomplish. First-time offenders will receive information on subsidized sterilization services and be given an additional 60 days. Oh I'm sooooo excited. Yeppers give them 60 more days! In the meantime I see a litter almost on the ground now! CLAP CLAP CLAP. Oh and just think, We will, sooner rather than later, become a no-kill city and this is the greatest step in that direction Isn't that WONDERFUL. Now instead of humanely PTS animals, they would rather have them all go nuts in cages until MAYBE they get adopted or die of natural causes!

I wonder how many RESPONSIBLE pet owners will now NOT take their dogs/cats to a veterinarian because they are being forced to spay/neuter their animal BEFORE the animals maturity level, or because of their personal beliefs? People moan and groan about Big Brother watching over them, what do you call this? This is just penalizing the responsible animal owner! It's the IRRESPONSIBLE ones that have created the over population in the first place and they will continue to do just that. Who's going to be the enforcer? Hell, the City can't even enforce illegal immigration but they'll be proficient on ball busting!! Good grief.

[kanesmommy]

I think if they move the age up to 6 months it's wonderful. I think it will cut down the breedings. I wouldnt think of having a intact animal anyway so i cant say about it. My dog Diesel was Neutered at 4mnths old. He is perfectly fine now at 1yr. He bounced back perfectly fine the next day.

[JoJo]

think if they move the age up to 6 months it's wonderful. I think it will cut down the breeding's. I wouldn't think of having a intact animal anyway so i cant say about it. My dog Diesel was Neutered at 4mnths old. He is perfectly fine now at 1yr.

Well maybe YOU don't want an intact animal, but maybe I would. Not for breeding purposes, but let's say 1) I don't believe in spay/neutering 2) It's against my religion (that's been said here on the forum) 3) Health issues. There is a study that states keeping a Rottie intact to at least 18 months could help in reducing the chances of some forms of cancer. 4) Wanting your dog to mature physically, or any other excuse one may come up with. Point being, I find this "Law" to be very unconstitutional. I also see this being challenged in the courts.

I'm so glad I don't live in LA. But I need to keep these thoughts, for the Sterilization Gestapo is trying to do the same in Hillsborough Cty (across the bay from me)

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by JoJo

Well maybe YOU don't want an intact animal, but maybe I would. Not for breeding purposes, but let's say 1) I don't believe in spay/neutering 2) It's against my religion (that's been said here on the forum) 3) Health issues. There is a study that states keeping a Rottie intact to at least 18 months could help in reducing the chances of some forms of cancer. 4) Wanting your dog to mature physically, or any other excuse one may come up with. Point being, I find this "Law" to be very unconstitutional. I also see this being challenged in the courts.

I'm so glad I don't live in LA. But I need to keep these thoughts, for the Sterilization Gestapo is trying to do the same in Hillsborough Cty (across the bay from me)

This is becoming very, very scary.

[tiphrehb]

Seems like it's all under good intentions, but I have to agree with JoJo. Unconstitutional. My 13 month old male rottie is not neutered and I may just keep him that way.

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by tiphrehb

Seems like it's all under good intentions, but I have to agree with JoJo. Unconstitutional. My 13 month old male rottie is not neutered and I may just keep him that way.

The underlying intentions are not good at all, but driven by HSUS= PETA.

[Rodeovixxen]

I have a question on this...I have a 4 month old aussie that competed in his first show this past weekend. I bought him to show. I live in L.A. county. How do I prove that he is showing besides ribbons, which he did place third in both classes. Am I making sense? If AC came to my door, what proof do I show them that he is a show dog? Anyone can say that their dog is a show dog and can even have ribbons from someone else. What do we as show owners do?

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by Rodeovixxen

I have a question on this...I have a 4 month old aussie that competed in his first show this past weekend. I bought him to show. I live in L.A. county. How do I prove that he is showing besides ribbons, which he did place third in both classes. Am I making sense? If AC came to my door, what proof do I show them that he is a show dog? Anyone can say that their dog is a show dog and can even have ribbons from someone else. What do we as show owners do?

That, my friend, is a very good question. I would contact some of the dog legislation liasons and post that question. Go to the ARC website and look at dog legislation; there are contacts there.

In the past, when we've written things like this to the politicos, they have turned around to use it against us, by tweeking their laws just enough while still taking personal rights away.

The money it's going to take to enforce these Nazi type laws is immense. Watch your taxes rise folks.. the moolah's got to come from somewhere.

Most municipalities across this great land have laws that protect the animals and animal owners, they just havent' had enough revenue and/or manppower to enforce them, or lack of education has kept them from being enforced properly.

If they would take that money and REALLY educate people, instead making laws that will become more inhumane to these animals in very short order, we might chip away at some of the ignorance out there.

These types of laws petrify me. Now it's my dogs.... what will it be tomorrow? People need to be made accountable for their INDIVIDUAL actions. Don't spank me because Mr. Smith is an idiot, and stop trying to save me from myself!

[JoJo]

This is why people NEED to speak up! Not wait till AFTER the damage is done. Before ya know it, we'll be saying "What's a Rottweiler, Pit Bull, GSD? Didn't they exist a few years back?" Sounds crazy doesn't it? But so did the thought of someone MANDATING sterilization!!!

[cerulean]

Geez, so much hysteria.

Ask yourself...
Do I truly want to stand for the end of pet overpopulation ??
Do I truly want to end the irresponsible breedings ??
Do I truly want to end the misery of all the unwanted pets ??

If you truly do, then either support these actions or propose an alternative. The LA law sounds rather overreaching, but it is in the right direction. We don't live in the Wild West anymore, and Manifest Destiny has proven to be a very flawed philosophy, so we are going to have to make agreements (laws) to remain a civil society.

[Jaidann]

Can't the answer to all those questions be a yes and still find something like this evasive?

Having the "government" come in to control something isn't always the wisest choice of action.

[moondog]

I find it difficult, if not worthless, to try and have a discussion with hysteria, LOL.

I will say that locally here, all discussion by Big Brother has been that their primary targets are puppy mills and pet shops.

Train your dog for competition obedience/rally/carting/tracking/schutzhund/therapy/dock diving/whatever, OR show your dog in conformation, OR obtain a breeding license, OR have your vet exempt an old, young or sick dog....and you are FREE to leave your dog intact as long as you'd like.

[royalarrival]

I have read the proposal for this law. They mentioned the pet owner will need to apply for a permit to be exempt. Have vet documentation for medical reason etc. to apply.
I was shocked to see it has been signed. I have been researching different canine topics for my English course. AKC was fighting against this law. I forget were, but I found a article stating their fight was rewarded with this law proposal thrown out.

The law has good intentions, but has soooo many loop holes that would make it's affectiveness almost absolete. The money would be better spent on education programs and assistant programs to spay and neuter for those without the financial means to do so.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by royalarrival

The money would be better spent on education programs and assistant programs to spay and neuter for those without the financial means to do so.

Oh, please.....I've lived in Los Angeles my entire life and I can't remember a time when there WEREN'T low cost spay/neuter programs offered by the city/county AND educational programs/training offered at reasonable cost by parks and recreation.

The problem is......you can lead a horse to water, BUT.......you truly can't make them drink. And so we need laws for the idiots among us, and yes we are affected in as much as we don't agree with them.

I will fight against BREED SPECIFIC legislation for all I'm worth...but this isn't it.