[JNancy46]

Mandatory Spay and Neuter laws are a very controversial topic these days. Several states including California (Los Angeles), Colorado (Denver), Tennessee, and Massachusetts have been very active in the controversy. Several have even written bills requiring all canines be spayed or neutered. This thread covers LA's AB1634 bill. - Dave|Xoxide

NEW: Mandatory pet spay, neuter bill advances
By Steve Geissinger, MEDIANEWS SACRAMENTO BUREAU
T

SACRAMENTO -- After a delay to fix what lawmakers called serious flaws, a somewhat less ambitious statewide plan to force household pets to be spayed and neutered easily cleared its first, key legislative hurdle today. The measure by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, was approved by the Assembly Business and Professions Committee on a 7-2 vote, along party lines.

Levine backed off pushing for a vote on AB1634 two weeks ago at the request of the 10-member committee's chairman, Assemblyman Mike Eng, D-Monterey Park.

Levine vowed to accept amendments fixing mistakes, clarifying confusing provisions and addressing conflicting rules before an end-of-month deadline that would have killed the bill.

Concerns included no provisions for out-of-state visitors with unaltered pets, contradictory language regarding exemption of show dogs, and unclear exemptions for police and guide dogs.

Levine said the bill now "contains 20 common-sense exceptions" for a wide variety of pets, including even those that have won titles for contests ranging from obedience to herding.

The measure would force pet owners to spay or neuter the majority of cats and dogs by the time they're 4 months old.

Owners who fail to comply would be subject to a $500 fine if their pets are caught anywhere, ranging from the veterinarians' office, to a car, to the front yard.

Breeders' associations are among those who have opposed the bill, saying it places an unreasonable burden on them, in particular, as it relates to obtaining costly permits.

But representatives of the state Humane Association and similar groups support the bill, aimed at reducing euthanasia of what's been roughly estimated at a half-million feral and roaming animals annually in California.

The taxpayer cost is estimated at $250 million annually.

Levine said he looked at two programs run by Santa Cruz and Los Angeles in authoring his legislation.

Contact Steve Geissinger at sgeissinger@angnewspapers.com or (916) 447-9302.
I really dont get it, seems like we're loosing rights all over the place.

[vasyasvc]

Four months is absurdly young. I didn't get Mick done until about 16 months, and it would have been longer for him, had he not started marking in the house if men came over.

There can be serious health repercussions for pediatric spay/neuters. I'm against it.

[hubua990]

I've never heard of mandatory spay/neuter anywhere in Colorado???

[ephennaCypota]

Mandatory spay and neuter laws are popping up all over. What really gets me is that these laws have been shown not to reduce shelter population in the areas that have had the law for years. Its as if these politcians and humane association people really think they are living in a bubble. So LA has mandatory spay and neuter laws. People in LA will either A) skip vet care so they don't get reported B)keep their intact dogs in hiding and failt o claim them if they get loose and impounded for fear they will be cited for failing to s/n and C) just get their "oops" litter mutts and BYB dogs/pups from a neighboring area.

I am also heavily against mandatory spay and neuter before full physical maturity due to the possible health and behavior repercussions. I don't want to own a feminine looking male or a female with incontinence issues nor do I particularly enjoy the increased cardiac, thyroid and bone cancer risks. I am pro spay and neuter of any pet that is not breeding material, but at the right time and by owner choice. Incentives would also be nice such as reduced license cost and free or low cost spay and neuter programs.

[gypearteday]

I've never heard of mandatory spay/neuter anywhere in Colorado???

I am sure its just certain counties.

Wow 4 months is way young! I can really see both sides on this and I don't like to see the shelters full and dogs dieing, but as you said we are losing our rights all over and I personally don't want to get my dog fixed at 4 months.

I have an intact male. He is not a breeding dog I don't plan to breed him, but I want to keep intact. I don't have a reason to get him fixed, plus I plan to do sporting events with him so I would really rather keep him intact.

I just wish people could be responsible. I am all for spay/neuter, but as a choice not something forced.

[flopay]

its already active in las vegas. gotta get a pet fanciers (breeders) permit to have an intact dog.

[raspirator]

I just wish people could be responsible. I am all for spay/neuter, but as a choice not something forced.

Agreed.

[WaydayFep]

Until people are responsible for their breeding habits they will never be responsible with breeding dogs...

[gypearteday]

Until people are responsible for their breeding habits they will never be responsible with breeding dogs...

LMAO so true!

[casinobonuscxz]

I just wish people could be responsible.

Agreed. That's the problem though, so many people aren't and they're just letting their dogs breed with whoever, creating more and more homeless dogs.

I'm for spaying/neutering, but I don't think that making it mandatory will do much.. unless they offer free or very low cost surgeries to the public I guess.

I can't tell you how many people come into the low cost clinic at the shelter I volunteer at with their intact, horribly bred Pit Bulls, only there to get a Rabies vaccine because the city sited them. I asked one man who had a male if he was there to be neutered and he said "Oh no, never. He has to make me money!"

FWIW, I just had my 16wk. old foster pup neutered and have seen numerous pediatric spay/neuters happen without any issues.
My parents had a yellow Lab who they kept intact for 2yrs., then had him neutered. He was PTS at 8yrs. old due to bone cancer. So, you never know.