Cons of Mandatory Spay/Neuter

[RealPitBull]

By Steve Dale
ASSOCIATED PRESS
10/30/2008

MANDATORY SPAY/NEUTER LAWS OF DUBIOUS VALUE

By Steve Dale

Tribune Media Services

Q: I work for a state representative who was approached about the idea of mandating spay/neuter for all dogs and cats by six months of age in our state. What do you think of this proposal? -- C.S., Cyberspace

A: Let me begin by pointing out that, in general principal, I'm absolutely for spay/neuter. Without question, spaying or neutering prevents irresponsible or accidental breeding and is a good idea to benefit health. Therefore, you'd think the next logical step might be to mandate spay/neuter of all dogs and cats. However, the truth is mandatory spay/neuter is not only ineffective, but worse, contradicts its very intent.

Among the many unintended consequences of mandatory spay/neuter is that visits to veterinarians decline. The fact is, not all the people who don't spay/neuter are negligent, allowing accidental or on purpose reckless breeding. They care about their pets, visiting veterinarians just as often as clients who do spay/neuter -- but many don't want to hear a hard sell about spay/neuter, or worry they may be turned in to authorities if they decline the procedure. When vet visits fall, the general well-being of pets is impacted. Also, rabies vaccine compliance plunges, creating a public health risk.

Mandatory spay/neuter laws are written to lower euthanasia rates, primarily at municipal animal control facilities. A Best Friends Animal Society survey of shelters in 1992 determined that 15 million pets were euthanized nationwide that year. The good news is, due to voluntary spay/neuter, breed rescue and the 'no kill' movement, that annual figure has dipped to around 5 million. Clearly, that's still too high, but we're moving in the right direction. Do we even need mandatory spay/neuter?

The dirty little secret is that if you take away pit bull-type dogs, many communities have so few dogs available for adoption that they're forced to 'import' canines from elsewhere. Animal welfare expert Mike Arms, president and CEO of the Helen Woodward Animal Center, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, concurs. "Greatly, the overpopulation pet problem is about cats," he notes. Mostly these are stray/feral cats or loosely owned indoor/outdoor cats.

"Mandatory spay/neuter laws do nothing to address cats," adds Arms. Besides, most estimates indicate that 90 percent or more of indoor only cats are already spayed/neutered.

Alley Cat Allies, the leaders in TNR, or trap, neuter, return of feral cats, does address the feral cat issue - and opposes mandatory spay/neuter. It's curious how the Humane Society of the United States can push for mandatory spay/neuter laws and also say it supports TNR. It's like being for both Barack Obama and John McCain. By the way, the ASPCA, Alley Cat Allies, and most national welfare groups are opposed to mandatory spay/neuter laws.

I have additional practical questions about mandatory spay/neuter laws. For starters, how do local governments pay for implementation and enforcement? Chicago is one city considering mandatory spay/neuter. Given the rise in murders in the Windy City, I believe police officers have more important matters to worry about than checking our pets' sexual status.

As it happens, researchers recently discovered that for some dogs, under some circumstances, spay/neuter after a year is best for their long-term health. When to spay/neuter, or whether to do the procedure at all, is a medical choice between client and veterinarian. I say, keep government out of our pet's private parts.

For additional information on mandatory spay/neuter, check my home page: www.stevedalepetwor ld.com.

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