My state is the first one in the U.S. to recently pass a law that is designed to reduce the number of stray cats that are euthanized in shelters. (I don't know how to post links, so I'll try to give you the short version). The law reads that you MUST spay or neuter your cat or face a $75.00 a month fine. If you do not, then you must pay $100.00 for a breeders license.
Some of our shelter directors have mixed feelings about this law for the following reasons:
Responsible people already spay and neuter. If a person doesn't have the money for the surgery, they sure won't pay the fine. They will abandon the cat(s).
People may be less likely to bring kittens to the shelter for fear of being fined, so they will be dumped, or worse.
People who feed feral cats will stop for fear of being fined.
The shelters are already over crowded. This law will cause many pet cats to be given up.
It hasn't been stated yet WHERE the money from the fines will go. I intend to contact my state legislator and suggest setting up a fund with the money, to assist people who love their pets but cannot afford the surgery.
What do you think? Is this law a good one? Cats are very prolific, and any effort to stem the population is laudable, but is this a good law?

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 07:39 am:

I think, overall, the law is a good one. I understand the concerns you raise, Hol, but I still think it is a good law. Whether people abandon their cats because they can't afford the fine or abandon (or kill) the litters of kittens their unneutered cats have, either way you have problems. I personally feel it's a coin toss as to which problem is worse. And we all know the people who allow their cats to have kittens "because they are so cute", and those who want the cat (or dog) to have one litter before neutering because they have some mixed up notion that it's better for the animal.

I know with the SPCAs in my area you cannot adopt an animal without agreeing to have it neutered and you pay for the neutering before you get the animal. I think they set up some reduced rate thing with some nearby vet practices. I know way back when we adopted Scott's cat we were able to call and get a coupon for a really inexpensive neutering surgery that was good at most practices in our neighborhood (we didn't adopt through the SPCA).

And, I'm sorry to say, but if people can't afford the neutering, they probably can't afford to take proper care of the animal, and shouldn't be having the animal anyhow. I know that sounds cold, but I also know that having animals costs money - for food, for checkups and teeth cleaning, for anti flea & tick stuff, and for possible emergencies.

I did some quick research, and noted that the Pennsylvania SPCA provides free neutering for pet owners that cannot afford the fee.

My mom used to unofficially rescue stray cats. Before she moved in with me she had 13 cats, all but one of them rescues (and one the kitten of a rescue), plus 6 outside cats she fed. She used to grab any outside cat that would let her, take it to the SPCA to be neutered (the Chicago SPCAs did neutering for a low fee), and release it after it had healed. Over time, I think she must have done this with 40 or 50 cats.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 08:26 am:

It cost $95, 2 years ago, to adopt Jasmine. The cost of her spay surgery was included in that price. Maybe that is most of the cost. I don't know. We had to bring her to the shelter to have the surgery. It was done by a vet who comes to the shelter. Despite the warnings on one of my dog boards that the shelters do a hack job on the spaying, she healed up without incident and I can barely see her scar, so I would do it that way again. She was scheduled to have her spay surgery, about 10 days after we adopted her, but she went into heat, so we ended up having to wait a month, for her surgery.

So, I'm guessing that if she hadn't been picked up that sheriff's deputy and brought to the shelter when she was, she would have been weeks away from getting pregnant and bringing more puppies into the world. Of course, maybe we wouldn't have her, either! LOL! Oh yeah, and even then, she hopped right into the sheriff's deputy's car! She still hops right into the car, any chance she gets.

By Hol on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 01:15 pm:

Most of the shelters here, too, (except the municipal ones that have such a tight budget), also spay or neuter the animal before it is adopted, then you must pay a fee before the animal is adopted, that covers the surgery (like Dawn said). That's the way it should be. The problem is, I am in a real rural area with a lot of farms around. The life span of a farm cat is not very long, but a lot end up on their own somehow. Then they end up showing up on people's doorsteps (mostly mine ). The choice you then have is, adopt it and be responsible for it, or take it to a shelter. Like's Ginny's dear Mom, I tend to keep everybody who shows up here. I feel that there was something about MY yard, that they felt safe; that they chose me, so I had an obligation to keep them. If I took them to the shelter, there was a chance they'd be euthnaized. I, too, have spayed and neutered MANY animals, to keep or to find homes for. I have also neutered and released a few ferals.
I have a very elderly aunt (94). She is in a nursing home now, but when she had her own home, she fed a whole colony of ferrals. There was a major highway behind her house, and people would dump them. They'd automatically go to Auntie Bee. Her "group" got larger after my uncle passed away because he TRIED to restrict her philanthropy. When rabies started becoming a problem among wild animals, people in RI and CT were warned not to put food out. My auntie believed that feeding you was the cure all for everything. When her kids tried to warn her about rabies, she used to say "If they eat, they'll feel better".

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 05:14 pm:

We had a program in February where certain vets offered a discount coupon though the newspaper, for spay/neuter. It apparently got a great turn out, we had our cat spayed during that time. Honestly, I think it's a great idea, but in addition to the law, it would be wise to have vets offer low-cost or sliding scale services, to prevent those who can't afford it from dumping the animals. If more vets woud give up 1 weekend a month to do the procedures for low-income families, we could greatly reduce the number of strays.

By Cocoabutter on Thursday, July 6, 2006 - 01:17 pm:

Well, since this is the debate board, and I know this will sound cold hearted, but I can't understand low income families getting pets in the first place. If they can barely afford to feed the humans in their family, why should they take on the burden of feeding a pet?

By Kiki on Thursday, July 6, 2006 - 07:20 pm:

We rescued our two cats from the shelter. They were both fixed. I think it's a good idea to help control the pet population and to avoid putting them down. I just wish more people would adopt older felines like we did.

Here's Jasmine




Here's Raven

By Kiki on Thursday, July 6, 2006 - 07:25 pm:

We rescued our two cats from the shelter. They were both fixed. I think it's a good idea to help control the pet population and to avoid putting them down. I just wish more people would adopt older felines like we did.

By Kiki on Thursday, July 6, 2006 - 07:27 pm:

Here's Jasmine




Here's Raven

By Luvn29 on Thursday, July 6, 2006 - 10:13 pm:

I can see your point, but working with the kids at our primary school in bad situations, I saw a lot of children who really leaned on their cat or dog during times that weren't so great for them. Sometimes a pet is all these kids have.

We really have to stretch to make ends meet sometimes because of all my medical bills, but I couldn't live without my animals. We could save a lot of money in pet food, but my husband knows that at times, just playing with my dogs, or having them come up and lick me just when I need it most, really gives me the boost I need. Not to mention how much good they do for my kids who have the added stress of me having the health problems I do...

By Hol on Friday, July 7, 2006 - 01:35 am:

Kiki, they are BEAUTIFUL!!!! They certainly are lucky kitties. They look very content.
I agree with you whole-heartedly. I wish people would adopt older animals, too. Many of them are "fixed", and you have a pretty good idea of their temperament. Also, they are calm, because they are no longer in the "puppy"/"kitten" phase.
Except for one kitten, we have always adopted the older animals because we were afraid no one else would.
Lisa, your point is well taken. However, just because someone is poor doesn't mean they wouldn't love and care for an animal. As Adena mentioned, they are great companions and comfort for the disabled. They are also frequently a life line for elderly people on a fixed income. The only thing that bugs me is when people who HAVE the maens, somehow avail themselves of free or low cost services, when could well aford to pay for it. It takes it away from someone who could truly use the help. But, I guess if that's the only way the animal is neutered, then it's better than nothing.

By Crystal915 on Friday, July 7, 2006 - 08:13 am:

Ditto Adena and Hol.

By Kiki on Saturday, July 8, 2006 - 02:56 am:

Adena,

Pets have been known to relieve stress and when I worked in hospitals, dogs were brought in to patients undergoing chemo because it would help relax them. I think it's a wonderful idea.

Holly,

Thanks! We first adopted Jasmine then Raven. You are right about an older cat and knowing their temperament. We could save a fortune on the pet supplies too but my kids,my dh and I love our pets so much that it's worth all the expense.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, July 8, 2006 - 10:44 am:

Kiki, your cats are cute! I have a Jasmine, too, only she's a dog!

By Kiki on Saturday, July 8, 2006 - 03:00 pm:

Dawn,

I know. I love her fourth of July pic!

By Hol on Saturday, July 8, 2006 - 05:42 pm:

My DD has a "Jasmine", too. She's VERY OLD kitty.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, July 8, 2006 - 07:21 pm:

Neat!

By Luvn29 on Saturday, July 8, 2006 - 08:57 pm:

Put me on the lists of pets named Jasmine! LOL! Our Cocker Spaniel is named Jasmine, we call her Jazzy most of the time...

By Hol on Saturday, July 8, 2006 - 10:38 pm:

So does my DD! Or they call her "Jazz".

By Hol on Saturday, July 8, 2006 - 11:09 pm:

Dawn, I LOVE that picture of your Jasmine on Fourth of July. She is SMILING!!!

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, July 9, 2006 - 12:47 am:

Thanks!

I would get my pet spayed or neutered anyway, because I don't want to deal with puppies! A law like that, really wouldn't bother me, personally.