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Should Fido And Fluffy Be Spayed By Law?

Gary Pinnell/Highlands Today

Sandra White of Sebring isn't opposed to a law that would force sterlization of Honey, her 3 month-old Yorkshire Terrier. House Bill 451 could be passed in the legislative session which begins in March.

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By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: February 20, 2009

SEBRING - Responsible pet owners should do it, says Nancy Parry, a New Yorker who is wintering in Wauchula.

"But I don't think they should force people to do it," pointed out her granddaughter, Kyle Hazard, 15, who has a neutered cat named after Vincent Van Gogh.

Rep. Scott Randolph did. The Orlando Democrat filed House Bill 451 in January. It would have allowed counties or municipalities to license unsterilized dogs and cats. The owner of every dog or cat in Florida could have been required to have a veterinarian sterilize the animal after it reaches 4 months old.

"I think it's a great idea," said Barbara Clark, president of the Humane Society of Highlands County. "The feral cat problem is an epidemic."

Two thousand cats were euthanized last year by Highlands County Animal Control, Clark said.

But news about the bill spread quickly. On its Web site, Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club, opposed the proposed law. Fines would have ranged from $100 for a first offense to $500 fine and a 60-day jail sentence for a third offense.

Breeders - Randolph calls them puppy mills - began howling.

"If adopted, Florida House Bill 451 would have a profound negative impact ... on responsible dog breeders in Florida," the Clearwater club said.

"Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club opposes the concept of breeding permits, breeding bans, or the mandatory spay/neuter of dogs. Instead, we support reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners who take their responsibilities seriously," the web site said. "It is vital that all breeders and concerned dog owners in Florida contact their elected state legislators and voice their strong opposition to this unreasonable and unenforceable measure."

Apparently, they did. By Wednesday, Randolph had filed a "strike-all amendment," deleting the entire bill and replacing it with two new provisions.

Currently, counties may add up to $5 to any animal infraction (like leash law violations or animals not vaccinated for rabies). This surcharge can only be used for animal control officer training. HB 451 would allow the surcharge to be used for low-cost spaying and neutering.

Local vets charge up to $150 per cat and $350 per dog. Animal Control is sterilizing feral cats for $40 each. A reasonable price for dogs would be $100, Clark suggested.

"This is to encourage pet owners to do the responsible thing, while not making spaying-neutering mandatory," Randolph said in an e-mail.

Over 300,000 dogs and cats are euthanized in Florida, with each county paying $60 to $200+ per animal, said statistics provided by Randolph. Managing, caring for and euthanizing stray dogs and cats costs local governments between $40 and $100 million every year.

So it's back to voluntary sterilization.

"We've already got that," Clark countered. "It's not working."

Clark is less concerned with Big Brother forcing owners to sterilize their pets than the practical aspects. When female dogs and cats come into heat, they roam, she said. They meet male dogs and cats. They spawn litters of six or eight pups and kittens.

"It's not their choice," Clark said. "They have to do it. But that's how dog owners and cat owners lose their pets."

Critics have pointed out that the law would unenforceable. Dr. Bill Jernigan of Sebring didn't support the mandatory provision of the bill, but disagreed that it wouldn't work at all. "Rabies (shots are) required, and there is no door-to-door enforcement of that."

Highlands Today senior reporter Gary Pinnell can be reached at gpinnell@highlandstoday.com or 863-386-5828

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