[ SHOWGSD-L ] City considers mandatory spay-neuter law (Cottonwood, AZ)

From: stormy435 <stormy435@xxxxxxx>
To: "showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:17:25 -0800
Forwarded:
 City considers mandatory spay-neuter law (Cottonwood, AZ)
Date: Mon Dec 8, 2008 4:01 am ((PST))

City considers mandatory spay-neuter law

<mailto:jhutchinson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> By Jon Hutchinson, Staff Reporter
Sunday, December 07, 2008

If you have a dog or cat in the city of Cottonwood, the city is proposing to
make spay and neutering of dogs and cats mandatory. 

A public meeting will discuss a proposed ordinance Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in
council chambers.

The program, already implemented by many cities and governments, not only
reduces the number of animals that are "put down" each year because they are
not adopted, but also saves enforcement costs in the long run. Cottonwood
has been urged to adopt that kind of program. 




Under the plan, all dogs and cats must be neutered or spayed. Licenses for
animals that are not "fixed" would cost more than if they are altered. 

Prescott Valley, for example, charges a fee of $6 for an altered pet, but
$60 for one that is not altered.

The spay and neutering programs would also be available at a low cost.
Albuquerque uses a $150 non-compliance fee plus a $150 litter fee.

During an Oct, 14 special meeting when the proposal was first raised, Nancy
Vargo of United Animal Friends in Prescott said that the only deal with the
overpopulation of pets is to spay and neuter because over-breeding will
always grow animal populations faster regardless how many are captured and
killed.

It is a costly process. As an example, she said that the Verde Valley Humane
Society would be paid $32,000 this year by the City of Cottonwood to shelter
and feed animals before they were adopted or euthanized. Another $104,110
would be spent for an animal control officer and vehicle and equipment.

When the total of $136,110 is enforcement and maintenance is divided by the
698 animals processed during the year, each animal costs $195, whether it
was claimed by an owner, adopted or euthanize.

Using a mandatory spay and neuter ordinance, governments have found that
they save more than three dollars for each dollar spent for spay and
neutering.

A special private program was developed by Sue Branch to deal with the huge
population of feral cats that appeared after the razing of old houses in the
Clemenceau district. 

With donations and personal cash, she was able to trap and care for 25 cats,
but animal control had spotted an estimated 125 animals in the area.

Councilman Tim Elinski suggested that while the mandatory nature of the
program is important to its effectiveness, the program would also require
education and public support.

Cyndi Sessoms, Chief Executive of Verde Valley Humane Society said even if
the shelter expanded, it would still fill up. She says people don't care
enough to prevent animal overpopulation.

Citizens interested in the health of animals are urged to attend.



http://verdenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1
<http://verdenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=1&articleID(746>
&subsectionID=1&articleID(746

============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2008.  All material remains the property of the original 
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind 
are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the 
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY 
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS 
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY 
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE 
PROSECUTED. 

For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx

VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org
NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/
============================================================================
[ SHOWGSD-L ] City considers mandatory spay-neuter law (Cottonwood, AZ)

Other related posts:
