I am in support of “mandatory” spay/neuter in Chicago. While, primarily due to the great lack of animal control officers, I doubt there will be enough enforcement, it would be something… and if nothing else, those that violate other laws (such as dogfighting) but can’t be convicted of it for lack of evidence, could at a minimum be fined for violating the mandatory spay/neuter. It would also HELP. You would not believe the number of shelter admissions I’ve seen who are DECLAWED but not SPAYED and obviously have mothered litters of kittens. These are obviously NOT feral cats, and not cats for whom the owners couldn’t afford a low-cost spay given they could afford to the cat declawed.
The ordinance would exclude registered breeders – however there are NO breeders in Chicago registered with the USDA – yet I’ve seen numerous for sale at a local pet store (I will not shop at) and advertised at my vet’s office.
My previous blog posting on the subject:
https://meowmeowmom.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/mandatory-spay-neuter/
PAWS (in favor of mandatory s/n):
http://pawschicago.org/animalwelfare/petordinance.htm
Humane Society of the United States (in favor of mandatory s/n)
http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/hsus_statement_on_chicago_spay_neuter_ordinance_073008.html
… and for the opposing viewpoint
Cat Fancy (opposes mandatory s/n)
http://www.cfa.org/exhibitors/alerts.html#ChicagoIL
Illinois state veterinary medical association (opposes mandatory s/n)
http://www.cdoca.org/IllinoisStateVetMedAssocMSN.pdf
National Animal Interest Alliance (opposes mandatory s/n)
http://www.naiaonline.org/Library/Chicago_Release_Mandatory_July_2008.html
Alley Cat Allies (opposes mandatory s/n)
http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=240
Steve Dale (columnist and radio show host – opposes mandatory s/n)
http://wgnradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43910&Itemid=254
Tree House Humane Society
http://www.treehouseanimals.org/Advocacy/SpayNeuterLegislation.htm
No-Kill Advocacy Center
http://nokilladvocacycenter.org/pdf/mandatorylaws.pdf
Maddie’s Fund
http://maddiesfund.org/grant/gov_mandates.html
I do recognize it’s “controversial” though honestly I don’t really understand WHY. Humane Society of the US is in favor, as is PAWS. Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association and Cat Fancy oppose, as does Alley Cat Allies (surprisingly). If it prevented one litter of kittens, I’d support it. They argue the majority of the 82 million cats in homes are already neutered (77% to 87%) – well, if even 10% are NOT neutered – that’s over 8 MILLION INTACT CATS REPRODUCING. If half of those cats are female and each has a litter of four kittens, that’s 16 MILLION MORE CATS A YEAR. 16 million kittens that need homes, that are adopted (or not). Even if they are adopted, they get a home that may have gone to a homeless cat that already exists. Keep in mind 70% of cats admitted to shelters DIE THERE. Only 30% ever find a home.
Stray and feral cats may account for up to half of the US cat population – and I’m a firm advocate of trap-neuter-return (TNR) as well! I don’t see why we wouldn’t attack the problem from more than one angle. Less than 3% of stray/feral cats are neutered. Maybe the ordinance would push some to get the strays in their area fixed.
I also think there are plenty of dog fighters for whom we can’t gather sufficient evidence to convict on fighting charges, but if the ordinance passed we could at LEAST hit them with fines for all the intact dogs in their possession. Another argument against the legislation is that many men “won’t do that” to their dog. I’m sorry, but with tens of thousands of animals losing their lives in this city annually, protecting some men’s machismo is NOT high on my priority list.
More general information on spay/neuter:
http://www.felineoutreach.org/EducationDetail.asp?cat=SpayNeuter
