Mandatory Sterilization for L.A. Pets

uploaded by Nicole Billard February 27, 2008 at 11:54 am
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Mandatory Sterilization for L.A. Pets by Nicole Billard

There will be a proliferation of white plastic neck cones in the greater Los Angeles area...

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.

Councilman Richard Alarcon, who like Cardenas is a co-author of the bill, brought his two pet Chihuahuas to the event to be neutered in a van operated by the city.

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.

This law would be retroactive, and would apply to doggies and kitties as well as puppies and kittens. Fines would also be levied to those who don't put their pets under the knife, though I'm not sure how easily this can be enforced. Will police officers have to drop to their knees in the presence of dogs, checking their, um, undercarriages?

Here are the fines and penalties:

First offense: Information on subsidized sterilization services provided and given 60 days to comply.

Second offense: Could be fined $100 and ordered to serve as many as 8 hours of community service.

Third offense: Possible $500 fine or 40 hours of community service.

Do you think that this is a draconian measure, or is it necessary to avoid overstuffing animal shelters with strays and pets that nobody will care for?