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| No | 40% | 140 votes | Total: 350 votes | |
| Yes | 60% | 210 votes |
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Add to FavoritesThe pet overpopulation problem in the United States is as bad as ever as negligent pet owners have pets with litters of "accident" puppies and kittens every minute. This negligence is often caused by ignorance, laziness, or simply not caring about the consequences to the health of their pet and their pet's young. Whatever the reason, thousands of animals die in shelters every year because someone somewhere didn't do the right thing. Are laws that mandate spaying and neutering for all pets the answer? Personally, I think these laws are not enforceable. At the same time, I believe they are immensely practical and would do a world of good in the direction of curtailing the pet overpopulation problem.
Does this sound a little contradictory? I don't think so. First and foremost, many pets do not get spayed or neutered because either the owners don't make it a priority or because they don't see the need to get their animal fixed. Recently, a dog I know nearly died because her owner hadn't seen the importance in spaying her - that is, not until an infection in her uterus necessitated an emergency spaying operation. Her owner is a law-abiding citizen and were it the law, he would have spayed her immediately after he got her. I am convinced that he is not the only one "on the fence" about whether or not to get his pet fixed, putting this action into law would ensure that those pets, at least, would be spayed and neutered.
Is it enough to create a law that requires people to spay and neuter their pets? No, it's not. Hundreds of animals live outside the jurisdiction of animal control or reside in secluded housing where attention is never brought to them. It would be all too tempting for people with these pets not to comply with a spay and neuter law. However, most of these owners are conscientious pet people, so if the mandatory laws are backed up with campaigns on television, radio, internet etc. educating people about the overpopulation issues and potential health hazards for intact animals, the likelihood that they will spay or neuter their pets just went up.
Next, how many people don't get their pets spayed and neutered because of the cost of the operation? Many places have spay/neuter clinics that offer to do it for a nominal fee, sometimes even free, but in most areas these only happen once or twice a year. What if you're working during that time? What if you're out of town? If spaying and neutering becomes law, it's only fair that that law offers a way to make it possible for lower income whether it be through grants, connections with independent foundations such as the SPCA or similar avenues.
I also believe that there are measures that can be taken right now without any laws in effect. There are many things individual shelters can do to help ensure that some animals, at least, do get spayed. Most shelters do not allow the animals to be adopted before they're spayed or neutered, but what about the ones that are already out of the shelter? I believe that shelters should require proof of spaying for the mother before accepting litters of accident puppies or kittens to ensure that these are the last from this animal. Alternatively, shelters or local pet-related organizations could offer housing placement help for the young with a confirmed spaying of the mother. Ideally, this would result in puppies and kittens having homes already by the time they're ready to leave their mother rather than taxing the shelter's space and resources.
Yes, I understand that some animals are intended for breeding, their owners have obtained these high-quality dogs or cats specifically for breeding and do not want them spayed or neutered. In these cases, I believe the animals should be specifically licensed as breeding animals. Ideally, kennel inspections would also be in order to ensure that the owners are properly set up to handle litters and that the animals are all being treated humanely.
No, I don't believe that mandatory spay and neuter laws are enforceable. However, just because a law is unenforceable doesn't mean it's useless. Far from it, in fact, as I've detailed above. I know many won't agree with this assessment, but I encourage anyone who wonders what kind of impact negligence in pet breeding causes to spend some time volunteering at your local animal shelter. No matter where you are in the country, there are animals who suffer because of irresponsible humans, regardless of whether the puppies or kittens in question were well cared-for or not. Until all animal shelters are empty, I believe it is our responsibility to eliminate accidental breeding and exercise responsible breeding if it must be done at all.
Learn more about this author, Rebecca Brown.
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Yes
Mandatory spay and neuter laws are absolutely practical but to try and enforce them is a major problem. I live in a small, rural community and whereas the in-town folks are complaining about the strays, you have the farmers that believe if you spay or neuter your farm dog or cat, they won't do their jobs; which is a falacy because my animals do a bang-up job of taking care of business. I have no snakes, mice, rats or any other unwanted critters; although I am a little mad at them for the slight decline in my bird population.
There are more dog and cat populations on this planet than humans and we number 7 billion. The biggest problem is the cost factor. Most vets charge upwards of $105.00, which is excessive and most people can't afford it, particularly with the price of fuel, groceries and electricity. I have taken in several strays and it cost me a fortune so I can see why it's not at the top of the To Do List for most people.
One thing that we have to understand is that WE need to be the responsible parties here. Animals are not a convenience, they are no different than having children to take care of: to feed, shelter, train and make sure they get medical care. Just because you want one doesn't mean that after you get him/her that's all there is to it. Once you get that cute ball of fur, it's going to grow up and you need to make sure that the animal gets fixed and doesn't roam the neighborhoods.
In most large cities, they have low-cost or no-cost clinics and vans that travel around and perform the procedures; so there is no reason for the animal populations to exist in those areas, which means that the human has options to curb the problem and they don't. In rural areas, we don't have access to those services. In my small community I am working with the County Commissioners to not only build a desperately needed animal shelter but to also have a van that will travel in our county to perform the needed procedures.
If we need to enforce mandatory spay and neuter, it does work, case in point; Australia. They were overrun with strays and instituted the law. You might see some strays when you visit that country, but you can bet they've been fixed. They also use the (CSNR), Catch, Spay-Neuter Release program for their feral cat population. Between the two programs this also means that their adoption program is not overwhelmed.
I think if we just make it more affordable to the entire nation, we could see this problem cleared up in as little as a couple of years. We just need to get everybody on the same page. If people could afford to do it then a mandatory law would not be required.
On behalf of the animals, I don't think the females appreciate having litter after litter or for the babies that are left in boxes in some ditch to suffer and die. How many more animals do you have to see dead on the highway or digging through trash for food because they are skin and bones? These beautiful, loving animals suffer and die everyday because nobody took responsibility. If you truly care about the problem, please help your community by donating your time, money or becoming a foster parent to an animal. If you already have an animal, be part of the solution, not the problem.
Learn more about this author, Nanette Piotrowski.
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