The Los Angeles City Council, with a vote of 10-3,
passed groundbreaking legislation to implement the nation's strongest
spay/neuter ordinance. The landmark legislation, designed to help reduce
the 60,000 animals killed annually by LA's six city-run shelters, was
fashioned by the Coalition to End Pet Overpopulation -- an alliance of
12 Los Angeles area animal protection organizations.
The new ordinance would increase the current licensing
fee for unaltered dogs from $30 per year to $100 per year. The licensing
fee for spayed/neutered dogs would remain $10 per year. The fee to
obtain a dog or cat breeders license would increase from $50 per year to
$100 per year, and allow for only one litter per year. All outside cats
must now be fixed.
"I have to applaud the LA City Council for boldly and
progressively trying to end the tragic pet overpopulation dilemma that
is plaguing our society," said Bill Dyer, Los Angeles area field
representative for In Defense of Animals. "Council member Mark
Ridley-Thomas is to be commended for his compassion for both humans and
animals. Hopefully LA will now be the model for other communities to
follow."
In addition to helping create the legislation, the
Coalition to End Pet Overpopulation has developed means to guarantee
that the new ordinance will provide for education and enforcement, as
well as resources for free and low cost spay/neutering. Two mobile
spay/neuter units will be utilized citywide and 250,000 resource
directories, in 9 languages, will be distributed.
"In addition to decreasing the number of homeless
animals, the new legislation will also help to educate people that
companion animals are individuals with needs and interests of their own,
and not just disposable commodities to be bought, sold and discarded at
their 'owners' whim," said Dyer. "Gradually, as more communities follow
the progressive lead of the LA City Council, we will see a reduction in
the number of animals being so callously and tragically killed in our
nation's shelters."
Source: [email protected]
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