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Contact this writerMandatory Spay/Neuter Laws (MSN) are quickly rising to the front in the current trend of pet limitation laws. MSN is geared towards easing the pet over-population that has millions of animals dying each year. In theory, MSN would work wonders in the fight to end the need for kill-shelters. Theory and reality are two different things though.
The first issue with MSN laws is that they do not address feral cats or stray dogs. They are instead aimed at pet owners who may or may not be responsible about their animals. These laws are usually poorly written with plenty of loopholes. A fee is charged for 'breeding licenses' which many responsible breeders wouldn't be able to afford. Responsible breeders don't make money on the puppies and frequently come out behind their expenses. Puppy millers and backyard breeders would be able and willing to pay that fee though. This results in an influx of low-quality, unhealthy animals. Another loophole is that people who provide notes from their vet's office saying their dog is not medically sound enough to neuter are exempt. Those who show their pets in confirmation would have to produce documentation that they show their animal and potentially pay a fee as well.
Another issue is enforcement. How in the world do the politicians and supporters of these laws plan on making sure they are followed? Most states are not equipped with enough law enforcement agents to enforce laws currently on the books. If those laws were being upheld their would be very little need for new ones like BSL and MSN. It is not feasible that Animal Control is going to go house-to-house asking for paperwork that the animal is altered or medically unfit to be altered. Therefore the law is a waste of ink and paper.
Add to the above the fact that a few of the MSN laws that have passed actually mandate early spay/neuter and another huge issue rears it's ugly head. Early gonadectomy is shown to lead to joint, bone, weight and behavioral issues later on in an animals life. The hormones removed by sterilization ARE needed for proper growth/development. Forcing people to put their animals health at risk to obey a law is horrifying.
And the final issue, perhaps the largest one for many pet owners is the fact that these laws open the door for further violation of our personal freedom. Responsible pet owners will get their animals desexed without a law saying they have to. By law, animals are considered property. By allowing the Government to trample over our rights, as citizens, to own and use property as we see fit we allow them to become more liberal in their systematic removal of our constitutional rights.
In summary, instead of pushing for more laws added to the ones already in place we need to stand up and push for better enforcement of the ones we have. Mandatory Spay/Neuter laws jeopardize our rights, the health of our animals and they are fairly ineffective in general.
VOTE NO TO MANDATORY SPAY/NEUTER LAWS!
Top "No" articles on:
Are mandatory spaying and neutering laws an enforceable or practical idea?-
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Mandatory Spay/Neuter Laws (MSN) are quickly rising to the front in the current trend of pet limitation laws. MSN is...read more
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2 of 4
by G. Schettino
Please, No More Laws While mandatory spaying and neutering laws may be practical, it is just one more way for the ...read more
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Spaying or neutering your pets, which ever the case may be, is one of the most responsible decisions a pet owner can make. Responsible, being the key word here. Is everyone that owns a pet responsible? Unfortunately, and realistically, the answer is no.
Now, let's assume the choice to spay or neuter your pet is no longer a voluntary decision that can be made by a pet owner. Let's assume that legislation is going govern this decision for all pet owners. Is this a good thing? Absolutely.
Considering the alarming, and continually soaring rates of overpopulated pets in the United States it would be hard for one to argue that some type of intervention, or legislation is not needed to protect animal rights.
Does this type of legislation make those who have always been responsible for caring for their pets any less responsible? Of course not. Pet owners who have initiated this procedure on their own, have done so out of a conscience, selfless, educated decision. Now, does this type of legislation make those people who have not accepted this responsibility on their own initiative more responsible? Most certainly.
Unfortunately, many people do not have their pets spayed or neutered. While there are a few reasons why people choose not to have their pets spayed or neutered, the most common reason is based solely on the expense of the procedure. Factor in the time and inconvenience of taking the pet to the veterinarian, and the minimum care of the pet afterwords, and an irresponsible pet owner is now breed. For proof, simply look at the statistics, millions of dogs and cats are place in shelters throughout the United States each year.
In 2006, the Human Society of the United States estimated there are six to eight million cats and dogs entering shelters every year. Can the shelters continue to bear the cost of irresponsibility? No, they cannot. The statistics are alarming. An average cat can produce three litters of cats a year, with each liter bearing on average, four to six kittens each time.
Dogs, on average, can bear two litters a year. With each litter producing somewhere between six to ten puppies each time. If these litters are not spayed or neutered the cycle will continue.
Legislative, or mandatory spaying and neutering may not appear practical, but it appears necessary. Just as all other laws have been legislated, not necessarily based on practicality, but rather out of necessity, there should be laws legislated regarding this situation also.
Is there an effective way to enforce legislative spaying or neutering? Our government has always managed to enforce the creation of new laws. This is what they do, this is their job. The creation of this type of legislation would not be overtly challenging to them, in fact, California currently has a bill pending legislation of a spay & neuter law. Their law would require pet owners to steralize their dogs or cats before they are five months old. There are reasonable exemptions to this proposed bill. And, the penalty for failing to comply with this law, if it passes, would be a $500.00 fine.
www.hsus.org
www.catchannel.com
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Are mandatory spaying and neutering laws an enforceable or practical idea?-
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by EM Schmidt
Spaying or neutering your pets, which ever the case may be, is one of the most responsible decisions a pet owner can ...read more
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2 of 6
I believe MSN's are both enforceable and practical, if written in ways that protect and promote the cause of true bre...read more
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