Are mandatory spaying and neutering laws an enforceable or practical idea?

Yes

8 of 9

by Ellen Passmore

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Mandatory spaying and neutering laws are not only practical and enforceable, they should be the standard for state legislature. The procedure is cheap, and in many cases is available in conjunction with the adoption of a pet. We paid $40 for our dog Max, which included the costs for neutering and his shots.

The most important aspect to consider about the feasibility of spaying and neutering legislature is how to regulate it. This would simple to do from the source'. Making sure pets are spayed or neutered before they go out to families would be an easy way to enforce a law that would cut down on the overpopulation problems of pets. The enforcement of this law would not be without problems, but by setting different procedures for each type of animal adoption improvements could be made.

The first area of adoption would be a local animal shelter. Animal shelters already include good deals for spaying and neutering your new pet. Since several different shots are required by law, including spaying or neutering is a logical extension of procedures that are already required.

The next is from a professional breeder. Animals they wanted to use for breeding could be licensed, and those they were adopting out could be spayed or neutered by the breeder or by the new family. Those adopting the animals that did not want them spayed or neutered could obtain a similar license.

Pet stores and farms are a third source of pet adoptions. These could be regulated by a combination of the methods used in shelters and breeders. By allowing licenses for breeding animals while making sure pets that are adopted out are spayed or neutered, a compromise could be reached with these private business owners.

Obviously, people who find their new pet in a bush or on the side of the road could not be regulated. But by regulating adoption from animal shelters, pet farms and stores, and breeders major improvement could be made. So many pets are euthanized each year because the supply is just so much higher than the demand. Spaying and neutering laws that were even loosely enforced would encourage people to spay and neuter your pet. And, as Bob Barker says, "Help control the pet population; have your pet spayed or neutered."

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