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Okay I will say this agian. The idea of trying lower the amount of dogs in the shelter by making a s/n law is good. However, the bill proposed is completely flawed. It gives those who are most of the problem (Puppy Mills) free reign. It gives them power. Dogs will no longer be checked for genetic diseases or their temperments checked. Inbreeding will continue. Healthy and happy dogs will end up extinct. Those who breed on a mass scale do not interact with the animals. These dogs are bred EVERY SIX MONTHS TIL THEY DIE. Puppies are not socialized, we end up with defects and other problems.
I should know I was rescued from a puppy mill.
I have hip dysplasia and I have lateral-by-lateral patellas. This means that my knees are in the wrong place and it pops in and out of place when i bend or extend my leg. Mommy was told by our vet that I need orthopedic surgery, but they don't know if it will help, cause once the cartildge wears away it will be bone on bone. They say I will have to cross the bridge if that happens cause the pain will be unbearable. Mommy and Daddy are doing everything they can. We just have to wait and see.
Please don't let these people keep breeding puppies like me who have to live through life unwhole.
I live in the city of Edmonton, 4 hours North of Calgary which is talked about as an example in this link. Our statistics are similar to theirs as we have followed their example.
I pulled off their animal control stats from their city website. They are here if you would like to look.
2003 is the last year they have added to their site. There was a 5.4% total dog population inpound rate. The euthanasia rate is 4% of those impounded - 192 dogs euthanized in a city where more than 92 thousand dogs live.
Included in this euthanasia rate were unhealthy and aggressive dogs as well as dogs with behavioural problems. The dogs were held three to ten days for owner pickup before being assessed.
In many other place the euthanasia rate is over 5%, and the impound rate therefore has to be much higher than that.
The point is, this success has happened because this city decided to actually enforce the leash and rabies laws that were already in place, and change shelter policies. No spay/neuter laws were required.
I will also invite you to read through this link, which opposes this law for some very good reasons.
Thanks for the read, though mom's seen most of it already. She studied both sides of the issue and will continue to do so. All of us here support mandatory spay/neuter laws. Mom used to be on the other side of the fence, but now she's a firm believer that legislation is the way to go on many issues. Me and my doggy buddies agree. Things have got to change!
Khuno, thank you for reading. We all form opinions based on our personal experiences, and they cannot all be the same. They are all valuable.
I did want to make the numbers in my above post more clear. I really think Calgary should be held up a good example for those interested in how to help tackle dog overpopulation.
From what I have found, the average impound in many cities is 25/1000 people, and the average U.S. euthanasia rate by dog population is 5.48%.
For a city of Calgary’s size, that would be 23050 dogs impounded yearly - Calgary impounds only 5000. A comparable city euthanizes just under 100 dogs per week, and Calgary, just under 2 per week.
This city has accomplished this by actually enforcing laws already in place and placing a heavy emphasis on education.
They do have a program to educate in the schools.
They advertise dogs to adopt by name in the paper.
They advertise dogs to adopt on newscasts monthly.
They utilise radio stations to sponsor dogs for adoption regularly.
I wish I could comment on their enforcement budget and efforts, but I am not familiar with them.
This is an example where enforcement and education have worked. Spay/neuter laws have not been needed
I apologize. I shouldn't do math in my head so late at night. A number in the above post is wrong. Calgary euthanizes just under 4 dogs per week, not 2.
Online petition against
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/414897802?ltl=117 6479489
Chris Zink author of "Early Spay-Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete, One Veterinarian' s Opinion." (You can read this article at- OPPOSE):
http://caninesports .com/SpayNeuter. html
im not pro this at all and i am sending out a letter to an assemblyman after i finish it. thisa is just going to encourage breeding. i am glad there are people that feel the same way i do about it
This bill is so flawed and I have such a strong feeling that the majority of people are smarter than that ..I simply will not put any further energy into voicing my opinion on the negative aspects of the bill.
I am certain that it will not pass this time..and let this be a warning of things that could come..The domino effect of opening this door is the road to complete trampling of our/your responsible freedoms in owning or breeding any dog.
I of course also believe this is the only solution in the end ..
cheers
From the North Shore Animal League website... One of the most respected shelters in the country as far as I'm aware of. This comment on the shelters website really surprised me:
... It is a common misconception that puppy mills make up the majority of irresponsible breeding. Though puppy mills do contribute, backyard breeding actually makes up more than half of irresponsible breeding. Too often, irresponsible breeding churns out imperfect or unwanted animals who eventually wind up abandoned in shelters, left out to die, sold as healthy pets in pet stores, victims in research laboratories, or wind up as pets to irresponsible owners who perpetuate irresponsible breeding...
So if you believe this is true, and agree the legislation has some fatal flaws in it... What is the solution? How can BYB be stopped? If we could compile a list of feasible suggestions we could forward them on to the powers that be in California with some useful ideas on how to help put an end to the hundreds of thousands of animals euthanized in the California's shelters each year due to backyard breeding.
Also of note. California already has the toughest animal lemon laws in the country. Even tougher then the federal laws. There are no large scale puppymill breeders in the state and there are almost no pet shops that sell live puppies because of these laws. If you would like to read more about how the laws here have put a stop to pet shop puppies CLICK HERE
Where mandatory spay/neuter (MSN) laws have been introduced, they have failed to reduce euthanasia rates, have increased enforcement costs, and have decreased compliance with legally-mandated licensing and rabies vaccination compliance:
San Mateo County California* – dog euthanasia rates increased by 126%, dog licenses declined by 35%
Los Angeles City, California – enforcement costs rose 269%, from $6.7 million to $18 million; and compliance to mandatory dog licensing declined
Fort Worth, TX -- ended its mandatory spay/neuter program. Rabies vaccination and licensing compliance declined after passage of the ordinance. This led to an increase in rabies in the city
Montgomery County, MD – repealed its mandatory spay/neuter law. Euthanasia rates declined more slowly than they had been prior to the mandatory spay/neuter law; licensing compliance declined by 50%
King County, WA -- euthanasia rates fell at a slower rate after mandatory spay/neuter. License compliance has decreased. Animal control expenses have increased 56.8% and revenues only 43.2%
Camden County, NJ -- mandatory spay/neuter ordinance hasn’t stopped it from being called “consistently one of the leading, if not the leading killers of animals in the state of New Jersey” (ref: PAWS NJ)
Aurora, CO – euthanasia and shelter intake rates increased. Licensing compliance dropped dramatically, compliance costs have increased 75% with revenue increasing only 13%
* in unincorporated areas of the county which are the areas covered by the ordinance.
Why Dogs are in Shelters
A study Exploring the Cat and Dog Surplus Problem listed the top 10 reasons that dogs are relinquished to shelters as
Moving
Landlord issues
Cost of pet maintenance
No time for pet
Inadequate facilities
Too many pets in home
Pet illness(es)
Personal problems
Biting
No homes for littermates
Most of reasons that dogs are relinquished
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