Spay/Neuter #1 for Weiss

This didn't make it into today's story, Homeless pets tug at heartstrings, but Los Angeles City Councilman Jack Weiss (who is running for city attorney) made an appearance at Sunday's giant pet fair in Westchester.

He commented about the recent controversy that may have led to the resignation of Ed Boks from his post as L.A.'s animal services chief -- funding free spay and neuter services for low-income residents.

Boks found himself in a political firestorm after he trimmed the program from his tight budget, so he quickly reinstated it. But that didn't stop council members Dennis Zine and Richard Alarcon from saying they were outraged and disappointed in Boks. So, after 3 1/2 years at the job, he resigned.

Weiss said providing free spay and neuter services is more important in Los Angeles than public policy issues such as education, homelessness and health care.

"There's no public policy issue that is more important than funding the spay and neuter program," Weiss told a crowd of hundreds of animal lovers. "It's not their fault they can't afford it."