Just a reminder to fix your pet
Spi, a Schnauzer-Terrier mix, left, barks at his owner Pourang Javaheri as they spend some time at the "Small Dog" section of the Off-Leash Dog Park in Van Nuys, CA, on Thursday, September 25, 2008. Javaheri knew about the new Los Angeles spay and neuter law which goes into effect October 1, 2008, and he decided to beat the rush by making the appointment for the operation that will cost him about $200, including the post-op medication. (John Lazar/Staff Photographer)
that the Los Angeles Spay/Neuter law goes into effect today!
According to the article...Owners who refuse face fines starting at $100, then $500, then misdemeanor prosecution. The law may be hard to enforce though. According to the article, during an audit in August, Laura Chick found LA Animal services ill-prepared to enforce the sterilization law. Not only has the department no plan to promote public awareness, Chick said, but no plan for enforcement.
"Spay/neuter is the cheapest way to save as many lives as possible in our animal shelters," said Ed Boks, general manager of the Los Angeles Animal Services department. "... (But) it's a very complicated law to enforce, to be sure."
Boks said his 64 animal-control officers will not go door-to-door or lift dog tails at the park. Instead, officers will investigate pets while responding to dog-barking and other animal complaints.
Nonetheless...it's a good idea to get your animal fixed or you might find yourself paying fines up to $500.
Hm. I'm not sure that they should go door to door to inspect pets, even if that were possible to do.
But what they really SHOULD do is target backyard breeders and pet shops! That actually would not be too difficult to do!
Plus advertising free or low cost spay/neuters (for middle class people as well as the low income) would REALLY help as well.
I am for this new law. A lot of people mistakenly think that ALL pets will have to be fixed, but that's not true. Exceptional animals (or sick & old pets) can still be spared. So it's not harsh at all. :)