Pet sterilization becomes law in LA

[Ban Hammer 13,347]

LOS ANGELES - 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.

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so much for anyone else.....

[Marilyn. 340]

ok I understand the importance of this but how are they going to know.... are they going to go around and check or something??

[Alex+R 0]

THIS IS THE BEST NEWS EVER!!!!!!!!!

I CAN'T PUT ENOUGH EXCLAMATION POINTS THERE AND I'M SERIOUSLY YELLING IN MY HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

** YEAH, NOW LET'S SEE SOME ENFORCEMENT. I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN HERE IN NEW YORK.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I think it's a great idea - although I do worry that an offender might be inclined to abandon their pet rather than pay the fine.

They will not let you have a pet at an LA shelter until you pay to have it fixed

[Miranda&James 8]

ok I understand the importance of this but how are they going to know.... are they going to go around and check or something??

Well, all pets are supposed to be rabies vaccinated so they could maybe check when that process occurs. It won't really affect bad pet owners that never take their pets to the vet but for anyone that does take their vet to get their yearly checkups I imagine it won't be hard to be sure they have that paperwork.

[GaryC 7]

I have owned a lot of cats in my life and I generally agree that they should be altered. They tend to be much better pets afterwards. But the cost is outrages here!! To have our male cat fixed with his shots included cost me over $200! I really want to get our female cat fixed now but with the shots it's over $300!!!!! I have called around to every vet in the area. I called the humane shelter, I have called everywhere and that is the going price. I will poney up the cost very soon but it really hurts the pocket. If they are going to make it manditory then they need to make it a little more affordable.

[Alex+R 0]

ok I understand the importance of this but how are they going to know.... are they going to go around and check or something??

Well, all pets are supposed to be rabies vaccinated so they could maybe check when that process occurs. It won't really affect bad pet owners that never take their pets to the vet but for anyone that does take their vet to get their yearly checkups I imagine it won't be hard to be sure they have that paperwork.

Yeah, there will probably always be a need for shelters, but if we could get enough people to spay and neuter their pets, we might not have to kill any. New York is on its way, but not nearly fast enough. This would get well-meaning people to finally see that they need to get this done, regardless of whether or not they think their animal will ever leave the house unaccompanied.

I have owned a lot of cats in my life and I generally agree that they should be altered. They tend to be much better pets afterwards. But the cost is outrages here!! To have our male cat fixed with his shots included cost me over $200! I really want to get our female cat fixed now but with the shots it's over $300!!!!! I have called around to every vet in the area. I called the humane shelter, I have called everywhere and that is the going price. I will poney up the cost very soon but it really hurts the pocket. If they are going to make it manditory then they need to make it a little more affordable.

Hey, that's the price of a pet. There are many places that offer spay-and-neuter services to people without a lot of money, so that the poor may also own pets.

[wishbone 0]

That's really a great move, fixing them will not only help controlling cats and dogs population but also for their health and behaviors. There should be next laws against those breeders only seeing $_$ out of this poor animals who suffers.

[GaryC 7]

ok I understand the importance of this but how are they going to know.... are they going to go around and check or something??

Well, all pets are supposed to be rabies vaccinated so they could maybe check when that process occurs. It won't really affect bad pet owners that never take their pets to the vet but for anyone that does take their vet to get their yearly checkups I imagine it won't be hard to be sure they have that paperwork.

Yeah, there will probably always be a need for shelters, but if we could get enough people to spay and neuter their pets, we might not have to kill any. New York is on its way, but not nearly fast enough. This would get well-meaning people to finally see that they need to get this done, regardless of whether or not they think their animal will ever leave the house unaccompanied.

I have owned a lot of cats in my life and I generally agree that they should be altered. They tend to be much better pets afterwards. But the cost is outrages here!! To have our male cat fixed with his shots included cost me over $200! I really want to get our female cat fixed now but with the shots it's over $300!!!!! I have called around to every vet in the area. I called the humane shelter, I have called everywhere and that is the going price. I will poney up the cost very soon but it really hurts the pocket. If they are going to make it manditory then they need to make it a little more affordable.

Hey, that's the price of a pet. There are many places that offer spay-and-neuter services to people without a lot of money, so that the poor may also own pets.

They don't have any program like that here. Where I used to live they had a place called 5A's that did spay/nueter clinics each month. You could get a cat or dog fixed with shots for $50. It went a long way towards taking care of the problem. But it seems there is some price fixing going on around here. I will get it done but I feel like I am the one getting fixed.

[no name 1]

ok I understand the importance of this but how are they going to know.... are they going to go around and check or something??

Well, all pets are supposed to be rabies vaccinated so they could maybe check when that process occurs. It won't really affect bad pet owners that never take their pets to the vet but for anyone that does take their vet to get their yearly checkups I imagine it won't be hard to be sure they have that paperwork.

Yeah, there will probably always be a need for shelters, but if we could get enough people to spay and neuter their pets, we might not have to kill any. New York is on its way, but not nearly fast enough. This would get well-meaning people to finally see that they need to get this done, regardless of whether or not they think their animal will ever leave the house unaccompanied.

I have owned a lot of cats in my life and I generally agree that they should be altered. They tend to be much better pets afterwards. But the cost is outrages here!! To have our male cat fixed with his shots included cost me over $200! I really want to get our female cat fixed now but with the shots it's over $300!!!!! I have called around to every vet in the area. I called the humane shelter, I have called everywhere and that is the going price. I will poney up the cost very soon but it really hurts the pocket. If they are going to make it manditory then they need to make it a little more affordable.

Hey, that's the price of a pet. There are many places that offer spay-and-neuter services to people without a lot of money, so that the poor may also own pets.

They don't have any program like that here. Where I used to live they had a place called 5A's that did spay/nueter clinics each month. You could get a cat or dog fixed with shots for $50. It went a long way towards taking care of the problem. But it seems there is some price fixing going on around here. I will get it done but I feel like I am the one getting fixed.

Pets aren't free you know!

[Alex+R 0]

In my opinion, if you don't want to fork over hundreds for neutering and spaying, adopt animals from a shelter. That way you're also not part of the problem.

[sparkofcreation 0]

It's been the law here in ABQ for a couple of years. They offer $15 spay/neuter clinics, and senior citizens and people with a low income can get it done free.

They also require microchipping here, and the special clinics do that for $6.

We got our dog from a shelter, and her adoption fee included her first year's shots and license, spaying, microchip, and the first vet visit.

Edited February 27, 2008 by sparkofcreation

[GaryC 7]

In my opinion, if you don't want to fork over hundreds for neutering and spaying, adopt animals from a shelter. That way you're also not part of the problem.

I got these two from a farm. I am very happy to get my animals altered. I think it is best for them. But $500 for 2 cats is OTT if you ask me. They would only better serve their cause of reducing unwanted cats and dogs if they made it a little more reasonable.

[Alex+R 0]

In my opinion, if you don't want to fork over hundreds for neutering and spaying, adopt animals from a shelter. That way you're also not part of the problem.

I got these two from a farm. I am very happy to get my animals altered. I think it is best for them. But $500 for 2 cats is OTT if you ask me. They would only better serve their cause of reducing unwanted cats and dogs if they made it a little more reasonable.

If that's what they charge, it's because that's what it costs. Those places that do it for a low price are doing it at a loss and rely on people like me and Rey who donate to them.

[GaryC 7]

In my opinion, if you don't want to fork over hundreds for neutering and spaying, adopt animals from a shelter. That way you're also not part of the problem.

I got these two from a farm. I am very happy to get my animals altered. I think it is best for them. But $500 for 2 cats is OTT if you ask me. They would only better serve their cause of reducing unwanted cats and dogs if they made it a little more reasonable.

If that's what they charge, it's because that's what it costs. Those places that do it for a low price are doing it at a loss and rely on people like me and Rey who donate to them.

I have donated to animal shelters also BTW. Let me ask you, what did you pay to alter a female cat where you live? Where I used to live the full price at a regular vets was $100 +$20 for shots. My point is that the vets here are gouging us.