Spay-Neuter
Animal Friendly License Plates Help Promote Spay/Neuter
Like several states, Tennessee offers an "Animal Friendly" license plate. Tenn. Code Ann. §55-4-290 The proceeds from the sale of these plates go into a fund "to be used exclusively for grants to non-profit organizations or governmental agencies to provide low-cost spaying and neutering of unsterilized animals to prevent and/or reduce animal overpopulation".
The fund receives about $15 per license plate.
Sen. Kent Williams Defends Right to Dump Dog at a Public Shelter
Update
April 24, 2008: It is now clear Sen. Kent Williams may have violated the state and county law.
Arizona Considers Mandatory Spay/Neuter for Entire State
Several Arizona representatives are sponsoring a bill, H.B. 2516, that would mandate spay/neuter for all dogs and cats over 6 months old unless the owner qualifies for and obtains an intact permit. Fees for the intact permit will be set by each county.
The number of instances when an owner can obtain an intact permit almost swallows the law.
Colorado Joins Other States in Mandating Spay/Neuter for Dogs, Cats Adopted from Shelters
A similar bill in Kentucky is pending.
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter now has on his desk for signature H.B. 1185 which would require dogs and cats adopted from animal shelters or rescues to be spayed/neutered. The bill has passed the state legislature!
Mandatory Spay/Neuter in Dallas?
Dallas continues to have high euthanasia rates despite efforts to improve spay/neuter and adoptions including the building of a new shelter facility this past year.
A September 24, 2007 report by Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center Operations reported the city impounded "more than 35,000 this year....Euthanasia rate is high and the adoption rate is low."
Gertrude Maxwell Finds a Creative Solution to Encourage Spay/Neuter
Update May 5, 2008: Gertrude Maxwell's dream has come true. Her bill has passed the Florida state legislature, and Governor Charlie Crist is expected to sign it.
Los Angeles Turns Up the Heat on Pet Owners who Refuse to Spay/Neuter Pets
Los Angeles is taking steps to increase spay/neuter of dogs and cats in the city. A proposed ordinance has been approved by the City Council and signed by the mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa.
The law focuses on providing low cost spay/neuter services to low income pet owners, a key in any successful spay/neuter effort.
Palm Beach County Approves Law to Limit Breeding of Dogs and Cats
The Palm Beach County Commission has approved an unusual ordinance that they hope will sharply limit breeding in the county.
Under the new law anyone breeding a dog or cat must obtain a permit at a cost of $150. The fee is waived if the breeder registers within 90 days. Even with a permit, breeders can breed no more than 2 litters of puppies or kittens each year.
Call on North Las Vegas to Subsidize its New Mandatory Spay/Neuter Law
The city of North Las Vegas, a suburb of Las Vegas in Clark County, Nevada, has adopted a mandatory spay/neuter law. It is now a crime to have a pet 4 months of age or older that is not sterilized and can be punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine up to $1,000.
There are exceptions for licensed breeders, permitted animal fanciers and animals a veterinarian says should not have the surgery for medical reasons.
With Its Unusual Animal Ordinance In Place, Albuquerque Steps Up Its Efforts To Move The City To No Kill
In 2006 Albuquerque passed a comprehensive ordinance dubbed the “Albuquerque Humane and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment (HEART) Ordinance”. Not many animal ordinances are known by such a charming acronym. In fact, I don't know of any others.