A humane law regarding pets
June 16th, 2008 Posted in Reptile PetsBlack and white plastic trash bags lay stacked, floor to ceiling, in the corner of a conference room Monday at the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley.
Officials called it “Body Bag Mountain” - meant to illustrate the average total number of dogs and cats euthanized at the San Bernardino County animal shelter in Devore, the city animal shelter in San Bernardino and the Humane Society, on a weekly basis.
The average is 482 animals.
“That translates into 22,900 cats and dogs each year,” said Susan Dawson, president of the Humane Society’s board of directors, during a news conference Monday promoting the passage of AB 1634 - an Assembly bill that, if passed, would require mandatory spaying and neutering of all dogs and cats statewide.
With the passing of the law would come many exemptions, including licensed breeders and pets deemed too old or ill for surgery.
The Humane Society has already gathered more than 500 letters in support of the law, and plans to submit those letters today to Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Montclair.
Allan Drusys, chief veterinarian for the County of Riverside Department of Animal Services, said the city/county shelter in Riverside on Monday euthanized 140 cats and dogs. He said about 25 percent of all animals killed in animal shelters are pure bred.
While mandatory spay and neuter laws have been widely supported, they have also been met with fierce criticism, particularly breeders, who argue it is too expensive and wouldn’t really address the problem at the shelters.
Diane Amble, a San Francisco-based cat breeder opposed to the bill, said a mandatory law would actually increase the number of animals in shelters.
Low-income pet owners whose pets have wandered off and housed in shelters may be more reluctant to claim them because they can’t afford the fees, Amble said.
Ambel said establishing such laws is also an infringement on an individual’s property rights.
“Nobody’s going to tell me what I’m going to do with my animals, just like they’re not going to tell me what to do with my kids,” she said.
Still, more and more cities and counties across the state have been showing their support.
Tags: animal shelter, animal shelters, animals, ash, assembly bill, cat breeder, cats, cats and dogs, chief veterinarian, city animal, city animal shelter, county of riverside, dogs, dogs and cats, gloria negrete mcleod, humane society, humane society of san bernardino, lori, Pet, pet owners, pets, plastic trash bags, s board, san bernardino county, san bernardino county animal shelter, san bernardino valley, spay and neuter, spaying and neutering, susan dawson, those letters, vet, veterinarianRelated posts
Tags: animal shelter, animal shelters, animals, ash, assembly bill, cat breeder, cats, cats and dogs, chief veterinarian, city animal, city animal shelter, county of riverside, dogs, dogs and cats, gloria negrete mcleod, humane society, humane society of san bernardino, lori, Pet, pet owners, pets, plastic trash bags, s board, san bernardino county, san bernardino county animal shelter, san bernardino valley, spay and neuter, spaying and neutering, susan dawson, those letters, vet, veterinarian
