Vote set for June 5
By Al Everson
posted May 2, 2008 - 12:56:58pm
A problem that has dogged Volusia County would diminish, civic leaders and animal-welfare advocates claim, if pet owners are forced to keep their animals from reproducing.
After years of lamenting the deaths of thousands of stray and unwanted dogs and cats each year, the County Council is moving toward requiring most pet owners to spay or neuter their animals.
Supporters say the number of pets without homes will decline, especially if cities follow suit and enact mandatory spay-and-neuter laws. The county law could not be enforced inside city limits.
"It's important for Volusia County to take the lead," Council Member Carl Persis said. "I do feel confident the cities will get on board."
On May 1, the County Council approved, in principle, a draft spay-and-neuter ordinance, and set June 5 as the date for a vote on the new law.
As it has been at earlier meetings, the County Council Thursday was treated to a litany of statistics about the fate of most impounded dogs and cats. Notably, of the approximately 17,000 animals taken to Halifax Humane Society last year, only about 6,000 were reclaimed by their owners or adopted. The other 11,000 or so animals were euthanized — "basically slaughtered," as Halifax Humane Society President Mel Stack put it.
"Spend one day at Halifax watching them kill animals," urged Nikki Linn, who heads the ARNI Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes spaying and neutering of pets in low-income households.
"Stop the killing!" pleaded Pat Mihalic of Daytona Beach, representing Concerned Citizens for Animal Welfare.
Mihalic noted the unwanted-animal problem costs the county $1.2 million a year, mostly to euthanize dogs and cats.
"Forty a day are put down," she said.
The measure is not without its critics. Opponents of the spay-neuter law claim pet owners should have the right to choose whether to sterilize their animals, and said animal-owners may want to breed their pets later.
Elizabeth Schmid of New Smyrna Beach warned the measure may deter people from having their dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies, if they think taking their pets to a veterinarian or vaccine clinic may cause them to get in trouble for not sterilizing their animals.
"Be very careful, because people will stop bringing in their animals," Schmid told the County Council. She also noted veterinarians "don't want to be cops."
DeLand Realtor Charles Thompson said the proposed spay-neuter policy is misdirected, in that it affects responsible pet owners.
"These people care about their dogs. It's really not fair to suggest that there are not very valid reasons for not altering your dog," Thompson said, noting he has a specially bred Labrador retriever.
The proposed spay-and-neuter ordinance would apply only in the unincorporated areas of the county. Under the draft ordinance, a dog or cat six months old or older would have to be sterilized, "unless it qualifies for an unaltered license tag."
To make it easier for low-income households to afford spaying and neutering of their pets, the county has a mobile clinic in the unincorporated areas. That clinic, a converted bus bought from the ARNI Foundation last year, has provided "over 1,000" sterilizations, said Dr. Joni Goldstein, the county's veterinarian.
"For a lot of people, it's a money issue," Goldstein said.
Pet owners who use the mobile clinic pay for the service according to their ability.
The measure includes exceptions to the spaying and neutering requirement. The exceptions are dogs or cats that take part in animal shows; animals deemed "medically unfit" for sterilization; animals used by law-enforcement agencies; service animals used by blind or otherwise disabled people; and dogs or cats kept for breeding.
Unaltered animals would have to have a microchipped, to make it easier to identify their owners if they are picked up by animal-control officers or impounded. The county will issue — at no charge — a special license tag for unaltered pets.
In addition, seasonal visitors who bring animals into Volusia County would not have to alter their dogs or cats.
Pet owners who do not have their dogs or cats spayed or neutered, and whose animals are not in an exempt category, will be warned to comply with the law before being fined, County Animal Services Director Becky Wilson said.
"Most people want to be in compliance," she said.
Those who ignore official warnings may be subject to a civil citation requiring them to pay a fine of $55. A third or subsequent citation for the same violation will be referred to County Court, where the judge may impose a fine of as much as $500, Wilson said.
If the County Council passes the ordinance, it will go into effect Sept. 1.
Assistant County Attorney Mike Dyer wrote the ordinance, noting Volusia County's proposed law is modeled after spay-neuter ordinances in Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles and Palm Beach County.
"The idea of a mandatory spay-neuter ordinance is a relatively new concept," said Dyer, when asked about possible legal challenges. Dyer said the Los Angeles County law was challenged in federal court, but the suit was dismissed.
Although he endorsed the proposed ordinance, Council Member Jack Hayman saw shortcomings in it.
"I have a problem with enacting an ordinance as far-reaching as this without it affecting the entire county," said Hayman. "Dogs and cats don't recognize jurisdictions. Fire hydrants, maybe."
Council Member Pat Northey called for approval of the concept, "not only because it's the right thing to do for the animal, but there's a cost to us."
To encourage even more spaying and neutering, County Manager James Dinneen proposed buying another mobile clinic, this one to serve low-income pet owners inside Volusia County cities, with the understanding the cities would pay the costs of operating the bus. Dinneen said he will discuss the idea with the city managers.
Moreover, he suggested the county establish a fund to receive donations from animal-welfare advocates, to subsidize pet sterilizations.
"We are willing to look into that," Dinneen said.
"Make Volusia County a kill-free zone," urged Kim Texter of the ARNI Foundation.
Reader Comments
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Instead of banning all pets to be spayed and neutered, I think there needs to be a clause that states breeders of a dog or cat that are registered with an upstanding orginization should be allowed to keep their pets intact. Maybe even something that requires all pets to be microchipped would be good....then when a PURE BRED cat or dog makes it to the shelter we would know where to send it back to.
It is really simple, breeders selling pets must supply each new owner with a health cert. which is required by law, right.......if that is required, why not require the pet microchip also?
If this law passes, the next town will pass it too, then the next, then the next. Next thing we know, it will be state wide and then the next state and so forth. Before we know it, there will be no pets at all anywhere. Is that really what everyone out there wants??????
It also discourages pet owners from seeking vet care, as they fear being reported for not having altered their pet or obtained a tag/license for rabies innoculations (and likely not utilizing other vaccinations).
Coercive and punitive laws are counter-productive. For the amount that attempting to enforce these laws will cost, the city/county can likely provide even more accessible/affordable low/no cost clinics, as well as low cost vx to those that need them most.
If someone is breaking the law by allowing their pet to run at large - then punish the owner of this pet --- not mine who is sitting inside, well cared for and not reproducing at will.
As far as I am concerned, a city/county should have no say whatsoever in medical decisions I make for my pet. That is my decision, and will be made in conjunction with my vet of choice (and with consideration to guidelines suggested by those knowledgeable in my breed).
Please read and support this petition for a mandatory spay-neuter policy on Craigslist
http://www.petitiononline.com/SNCL1/petition.html
* Permission is granted to link, crosspost, and distribute this petition
Mandatory Spay/Neuter is the most recent in a string of anti-dog legislation by the Animal Rights activists who seek to end the ownership of animals. It is an extremist agenda and an impractical one.
And what will be accomplished with Mandatory Spay/Neuter? Puppy millers will increase their market share and the people looking for pets will be forced to buy from these unscrupulous producers of unhealthy and inferior dogs and cats. The influx of illegally smuggled puppies and kittens from Mexico will increase – yet another source of unhealthy pets for consumers left with nowhere else to turn because the ethical hobby breeder will have been outlawed by Mandatory Spay/Neuter, while puppy mills are provided the first exemption under that bill. The unintended consequence will be a windfall for puppy and kitten mills, thereby promoting these inhumane businesses.
As for trying everything else... how many of the writers stating 'there's a better way' have been part of the already tried 'attempts' and are they actually helping do what THEY can: homechecks, altering pets they sell, and microchipping so their animals never end up in the shelter? Answer: they are not doing ANYTHING and DENY there is even a problem!
In fact, breeders are so smug and defensive of their 'hobby' they've wasted millions on lobbyists and lawsuits while adoptable animals which THEY helped create are killed. Their reply? They just make more. That's a heck of a 'responsibility' to show the public.
Pay your taxes, license your dogs and observe the zoning laws. You keep telling us enforce the current laws! Maybe that's the answer, too. But AC is far, far too busy rounding up strays (unaltered dogs breeding other unaltered dogs) to enforce those laws. And isn't that what breeders really like about the current system?
LA County just WON a lawsuit. See CACDA.org under 'news.' LA City was just sued. LA City lawsuit will be dismissed just like the LA County lawsuit was in January, 08.
Wake up greedy breeders. People are tired of paying for the byproduct of backyard breeders who are selling puppies and kittens out of flea markets and tag sales.
Intact dogs are much more likely to be killed on the expressway and 87% of the dead dogs on the expressway are not altered. Intact dogs are also MUCH more likely to bite and attack. The majority if not ALL of the dogs who killed last year were intact and not neutered. Uncastrated dogs have a 3 Xs more liklihood of biting, thus increased liability to municipalities and owners. It's a matter of public safety.
Years ago, dogs were not a commodity for sale on street corners. Animal Control was started to protect the public from rabies. Only the wealthy people had purebred dogs and AKC was a standard of excellence. Not so anymore.
If we punish pet owners who have not spayed or neutered their pet when thy get a fine they will likely give up the pet, or if they don't pay the fine the pet will probably be taken away from them and put in a shelter, defeating the whole purpose of the plan.
Instead we could register your pet if it is spayed or neutered and be entered to win a prize each month, say $1000 or take their pets picture for a calendar and sell the calenders. Point is there many rewards people would go for that would save money and most importantly, pets!
Mandatory neutering laws will not decrease the number of animals killed in shelters. The people who dump animals dump them even faster when faced with mandatory laws, high fees and fines. San Mateo Calif had an MSN law that was such a disaster they rescinded the law not too long ago. Los Angeles County has passed a mandatory Spay Neuter law and so has Palm Beach County Florida, they are already having problems in both places. A new Class Action Law Suit was just filed in LA County. Mandatory Spay Neuter ordinances are unworkable, expensive and unenforceable. There are better ways to control the pet population, but it takes the cooperation of the entire population.
Before humans, mother earth took very good care of her population. It has been since humans came along and thought they were superior creatures that the ecosystem in this country is no longer in balance.
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