[accmemberdiscussion] Re: Article on MSN this Sunday
- From: Djsdosido@xxxxxxx
- To: accmemberdiscussion@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 09:30:34 EST
Thanks, Theresa. Anyone who would like to use it for those type things,
please feel free -- with appropriate attribution, of course <G>.
Donna & the Dosido Gang
Remlap, Alabama
Visit me at _www.mydoublenickellife.blogspot.com_
(http://www.doublenickellife.blogspot.com/) and help support the Alabama
Canine Coalition by
shopping/searching through _http://www.goodsearch.com_
(http://www.goodsearch.com/) and _http://www.igive.com_
(http://www.igive.com/)
Every year of dog love is worth seven years of the human stuff. (Michael
Rosen)
In a message dated 1/23/2011 6:40:52 A.M. Central Standard Time,
southnmist@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:
Sent my reply too quickly...
Excellent letter-thanks for sending. Would make a great handout/teaching
aid at events, even non-pet events.
Theresa @ Southern Mist
____________________________________
From: Djsdosido@xxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 11:07:38 -0500
Subject: [accmemberdiscussion] Re: Article on MSN this Sunday
To: accmemberdiscussion@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Here you go, Bonnie..........................
Why Mandatory Spay/Neuter Is Not the Answer
The issue of surplus animals in communities across the nation is fraught
with emotion. For those who shelter and rescue, the primary issue is “
numbers”: so many, so many without caring homes. For those who have
dedicated
their lives to responsibly owning and breeding dogs and cats, the issue is
the right to their interests in producing healthy, sound animals for
themselves and for other responsible owners without undue impediment or
unnecessary harassment.
In the January 16, 2011 edition of The Birmingham News, Veronica Kennedy
addressed in her pet column the question of pet population by a call for a
spay/neuter law, presumably to force any person with intact animals to have
them surgically altered regardless of circumstances or environment. Her
argument that only a spay/neuter law will remedy pet surplus numbers is not
viable. It most certainly is NOT “the only hope we have of ending pet
homelessness”. She extensively quotes an article about the benefits of
spay/neuter found on a local veterinary clinic web site.
At that same web site (_http://www.gsaclinic.com_
(http://www.gsaclinic.com/) ), there is also an article outlining the benefits
of getting a pet
from a responsible breeder. In part it reads:
“A responsible breeder is a good source for a well-bred, healthy pet. The
breeder will carefully select the parents to emphasize desirable
attributes and minimize faults in their progeny. Some people breed animals
only to
produce pets to sell. These individuals have no regard for the
advancement of that breed; they are motivated solely by profit. Responsible
breeders
will never breed without considering the advancement of the breed.”
If all people who reputably breed animals are required to spay and neuter
their breeding stock, where will these well-bred, healthy pets come from?
According to the well-respected Maddie’s Fund
(http://www.maddiesfund.org/Resource_Library/The_Shelter_Pet_Project_By_the_Numbers.html),
across the
country there are approximately 17 million households that will get a pet
within the next year, but yet haven’t decided where to get their pet (shelter
or breeder). The organization also states that there are approximately 3
million pets euthanized each year nationwide. The obvious conclusion is
that if every shelter animal were adopted, 14 million households would have
to get their pets from animal breeders.
Every data-based study of mandatory spay/neuter laws has shown that this
approach does not work: they do NOT increase spay/neuter compliance rates;
they do NOT reduce shelter intake; they are NOT cost-effective; they do NOT
save lives. In each community that has passed this type law, shelter
killing and intake actually increase because in poor communities, people who
don’t have the time or money to have their pets altered are forced to
surrender them or the pets are seized. The killing cycle begins again as
those
surrendered/seized animals are replaced with more unaltered animals. For
example, Los Angeles, CA increased its shelter killing and intake rate by 30%
after passage of a mandatory spay/neuter law. Kansas City, MO has
recently passed a breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter law. The intake and
killing of those targeted breeds has increased by an astounding 80%. The San
Antonio, TX shelter kills more than 70% of all its impounded animals; the
city has a mandatory spay/neuter law in place.
There is a national consensus against mandatory spay/neuter laws. The
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has done a
very extensive study on MSN laws and concluded that there is absolutely “no
credible evidence” that any of them have worked.
(_http://www.aspca.org/about-us/policy-positions/mandatory-spay-neuter-laws.aspx_
(http://www.aspca.org/about-us/policy-positions/mandatory-spay-neuter-laws.aspx)
). Opposition
against MSN also comes from groups such as Alley Cat Allies
(_http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid+794_
(http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid+794) ), the American
Veterinary Medical Association
(_http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/may09/090515j.asp_
(http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/may09/090515j.asp) ), the No Kill Advocacy
Center
(_http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/pdf/mandatorylaws.pdf_
(http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/pdf/mandatorylaws.pdf) ), the American
College of Theriogenologists
(_http://www.theriogenology.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=59_
(http://www.theriogenology.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=59) ) among
others.
So what does work when mandatory spay/neuter so clearly does not? Every
legitimate study that has examined this question agrees: the only proven
way to increase voluntary spay/neuter compliance among pet owners is through
the provision of low-cost and free spay/neuter services, NOT through
punitive, regressive laws which unfairly target those who strive to be good
animal stewards. As Ms. Kennedy highlighted in her column, The Alabama
Spay/Neuter clinic in Irondale is leading the way in this effort and should be
heartily supported, both through donations and volunteering. This approach,
plus community-sponsored education initiatives that teach people how to
responsibly acquire and own their animals, is the answer to addressing the
homelessness of pets. Yes, even in Alabama.
Donna P. Noland, Vice President
The Alabama Canine Coalition, Inc.
www.alabamacaninecoalition.org
Donna & the Dosido Gang
Remlap, Alabama
Visit me at _www.mydoublenickellife.blogspot.com_
(http://www.doublenickellife.blogspot.com/) and help support the Alabama
Canine Coalition by
shopping/searching through _http://www.goodsearch.com_
(http://www.goodsearch.com/) and _http://www.igive.com_
(http://www.igive.com/)
Every year of dog love is worth seven years of the human stuff. (Michael
Rosen)
In a message dated 1/22/2011 7:58:28 A.M. Central Standard Time,
BFANCITP@xxxxxxx writes:
My computer didn't come with office. I can open PDF files.
Bonnie
=
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