Results tagged “spay and neuter” from South Bay Pets

Purrfect Partners , a nonprofit cat rescue and adoption group, is holding a yard sale fundraiser to help pay for spay and neuter programs.

It will take place at 4716 W. Bulova St. in Torrance from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Proceeds go to neuter and spay programs.

Some of you will love hearing this -- others, not so much.

California's proposed mandatory spay and neuter bill (AB 1634)  has been defeated following amendments that led even its staunch backers (the California Taxpayers for Safe and Healthy Pets) to back away from full-hearted support in the end. "We didn't want it to pass," said supporter Judie Mancuso. "It's unfortunate when you can't support your own bill."

The bill had widespread support from animal shelter directors, animal rights and rescue groups, in addition to the SPCA and humane societies -- all battling the rising tide of pet overpopulation that so tragically leads to a last-resort solution at animal shelters, euthanasia of healthy but unwanted pets.

Opposing the measure have been dog owners involved in breeding and training show breeds, guide and service dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, police dogs, hunting dogs and working herding and livestock guardian dogs.

I've had friends on both sides of this legislation -- dedicated rescue and shelter volunteers who supported it and equally dedicated members of the South Bay Kennel Club and those with working herding dogs who were opposed.

Here are links to supporters' fact sheets  and the AKC's most recent press release.

So what's next? Mancuso, who has been helping to shepherd the bill through the legislature, said attentions will now be turned to helping implement Los Angeles' city spay and neuter law that takes effect Oct. 1. And, she added, we can expect another stab at a statewide bill during the next legislative session.

Meanwhile, the push to establish specialized license plates to support the spay and neuter cause in California is continuing through a separate process (it was not connected directly to AB 1634 as we earlier reported). State Sen. Alex Padilla is spearheading that drive and Mancuso said discussions are ongoing with the DMV about what will be required. The plates are expected to be available by late 2008 or early 2009, with 75 percent of the motorist fees going toward county programs that help fund low-cost spay and neuter efforts.

A contest is being considered to come up with the artwork and message for the plates, she said. Below are a few samples from other states (including Arizona and Illinois, the home states of our two 2008 presidential candidates -- mentioned only because we're all about politics this week in the media and I couldn't find a pet or dog connection to the convention other than some stories about the protesters that came up on google searches). 

Others samples can be seen at the Doris Day web page:

When it comes to efforts to spay and neuter Los Angeles pets, the city is falling short, according to a new audit released by Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick. Reporter Kerry Cavanaugh writes about it in today's Los Angeles Daily News and Daily Breeze:

Six months after the Los Angeles City Council and mayor passed an ordinance requiring owners to spay or neuter their pets, the city has done little to educate the public on the new rule -- and will likely rely on voluntary compliance, according to an audit released Tuesday.

Los Angeles is the largest city in the nation to enact such a strict spay-and-neuter ordinance. The law takes effect in October and requires owners to fix pets 4 months old or older.

Animal Services General Manager Ed Boks says lack of funding is a problem.

"This ordinance is an unfunded mandate for the department," Boks told the Daily News. "It comes at a time when the department sustained 15 percent budget cuts this year and we're facing the layoffs of some 27 employees."

Public service announcements are being prepared, he said, and the department will enforce the ordinance once it takes effect Oct. 1.

The city's Animal Services web site provides more information about the new law along with resources to find low-cost spay and neuter clinics.

California may soon have its own specialized license plate to help fund spay-and-neuter programs.

It's all part of a state law -- AB 1634 (California Healthy Pets Act) -- that's making its way through the state legislature (more on that later this week when the bill is expected to be close to its final form).

As for the license plate, Judie Mancuso of .the AB 1634 campaign says 23 other states already have plates supporting similar spay-and-neuter programs.

And based on how successful California's environmental plates have been -- bringing in $4.5 million from 2006-07 alone -- she said the pets version could really make a difference in the fight against pet overpopulation.

So what will it look like? Don't know yet.

"We're hoping to have a contest and to open it up to the entire state," she said. The plates would include a message and a picture. If 7,500 are pre-sold at the Department of Motor Vehicles, the plates will begin to be issued 9 months later, she said. So that means they could be available about a year from now.

We'll update you with more details later this week on the pending state bill. If you want to find out more about in the meantime, visit the sponsor's web page.

And you can see samples of plates from other states here.

Plates from Florida and Texas are show above. And here's New Mexico's version: 

Let's get those creative ideas going! .

Today's Daily Breeze carries news of some changes in a long-established veterinarian practice in the South Bay.

Dr. W. Marvin Mackie,  (shown below) founded a string of low-cost spay-and-neuter clinics in his personal crusade to fight pet overpopulation. In April, he sold his last remaining clinic, Animal Birth

"Dr. Z," 37, who also has a mobile vet clinic (www.surfsidevet.com), plans to continue the spay/neuter services at the clinic, although prices will go up some. He will expand the vision

As for Dr. Mackie, 71, he'll continue to work part time at the clinic during the transition period and also will be teaching and speaking. His trailblazing ideas are still being taught via DVDs available at his web site, www.quickspay.com.

Both veterinarians live in San Pedro.

Daily Breeze photos/Scott Varley

Rover Rescue of Redondo Beach is offering vouchers to qualified low-income households in the South Bay for surgeries to spay or neuter their dogs.

The dog rescue group recently received $7,500 in grant money from the Handsel Foundation and Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation to help provide the surgeries.

The program helps reduce pet over-population and also assists pet owners in complying with strict new spay and neuter laws taking affect in several Los Angeles County cities.
Go to www.roverrescue.com or call 310-379-0154 for information and voucher applications.

Purrfect Partners, a South Bay-based cat rescue and adoption group, will hold a yard sale from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 13 at 4716 W. Bulova St. in Torrance.

Proceeds go toward spay and neuter programs.