How to Get a Spay/Neuter Law Passed

Pet overpopulation and overcrowded shelters are an ongoing problem in the United States with about half of the estimated 8 to 12 million animals that enter shelters each year ending up euthanized. Aside from destroying innocent life, it is a burden on taxpayers.

Mandatory spay/neuter laws can conceivably put an end to the pet overpopulation crisis in our country by curtailing breeding among irresponsible pet owners, puppy mills and backyard breeders.

In February 2008, a groundbreaking universal spay/neuter ordinance passed in Los Angeles thanks to broad public support. The L.A. ordinance will save thousands of pets (see link in Resources below). Various other cities, counties and states already have spay/neuter laws in place that have proven successful-and with the support of enough citizens it can become a nationwide trend-so that one day we will no longer be a society that views family pets as disposable. Here are steps to advocating for a spay/neuter law in your city, county or state.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Persistence
• Determination
• Compassion for animals

1. Check if there is a spay/neuter law in your city, county or state. If not, find out the proper official to contact to show your support. For instance, call your city council regarding city legislation, your county supervisor for a county law, and the assemblymember from your district about introducing a statewide bill.

2. Ask friends, relatives and coworkers to join you in showing support by contacting their respective officials. They should live within the jurisdiction of any official they contact.

3. Check online to see if there are any spay/neuter petitions in place for your city, county or state and if so, sign them. A good place to start would be www.thepetitionsite.com or a website for an animal organization such as the Humane Society of the United States.

4. If you can't find a spay/neuter petition, start your own and gather signatures. Once you meet your goal you can present it to the proper political officials.

5. Attend any public hearings for spay/neuter legislation at city hall. If a statewide bill is going before the assembly, attend the first hearing at your state capital to show support. Your state's official website will have links to the city, county and state governments for hearing dates.

6. Purchase animal friendly license plates if your state offers them. The proceeds from the plates go toward low cost spay/neuter programs. The more citizens that show support for spaying/neutering, the better the chances of getting legislation passed.

7. Check voting records and vote for officials who are pro animal. Those who tend to vote pro animal are likely to support spay/neuter laws.

Tips & Warnings

• Spread the word about the health benefits of spaying and neutering to everyone you know with dogs and cats. Let them know it prevents breast cancer and uterine infections in females, and prevents testicular cancer, helps eliminate prostate problems and curbs aggression in males-which will make for a happier pet and human.

Resources

• California Healthy Pets Act

Who Can Help Sponsored

[diggitydogg]

on 10/11/2009 Well, at least there are people like you there Marianne. Too bad there are more of them and less of you. But hopefully, people will become more enlightened in our lifetime. We can only hope.

[mariannestovall]

on 8/9/2009 Ah, there is a God. I am so thankful to see the light, that our country might save itself from this disgusting and shameful euthanasia, thru spay/neuter. My county of San Jacinto located in east texas is in a time warp. Animals here rate as high as an Iranian woman. By the time our "dog catcher" starts his engine to pick up a few unsuspecting desperate animals, most animals have already been disposed of by their own with guns, poison, starvation, dog fights,beatings or dumping them somewhere else. Down here animals have no right, even if there might be some rights. People who destroy animals in any way they see fit are almost revered. Those who abuse animals have more rights than those of us that chose to speak out for an animal. Why there is something wrong with those of us that we might want to help an animal. While this is one of the poorest counties in Texas we can't make excuse...

[choochoocherry]

on 3/19/2008 bobbic is a BREEDER.

Breeders hide their businesses and their incomes thank to lack of licensing.

Mandatory spay neuter means breeders have to get licensed.

So breeders oppose mandatory spay neuter with their usual empty propaganda because it means they may have to pay taxes, and admit they are running businesses!

They promote Nathan Winograd because Winograd got involved with breeder lobbies and in exchange for breeders like bobbic promoting his foundation and book, he opposes licensing for the breeders.

Nasty business.

(Laura Allen works for Best Friends, and Nathan has gotten Best Friends people hired at shelters he's been involved with.)

A nasty business.

[diggitydogg]

on 3/11/2008 MacDonald,
I didn't want to insinuate that you are an "exploiter" of animals. However, it always seems to be those who breed dogs and somehow profit from the breeding of dogs who are vocal about their opposition to spay/neuter laws, whereas those who work or volunteer in animal shelters, have to euthanize shelter dogs or who adopt/rescue dogs are always the ones in favor. Interesting. And, yes...spay/neuter laws have definitely worked for Los Angeles County municipalities which is why the City of Los Angeles just passed a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance. So you are incorrect in stating that these laws have NOT WORKED anywhere. They most certainly HAVE worked and that is why the nation's SECOND LARGEST city just followed suit.

[diggitydogg]

on 3/11/2008 Then you need to notify the City of Los Angeles. They just passed a mandatory spay/neuter law. They probably weren't as up on the research as you and other breeders/exploiters of animals.