The Las Vegas city council passed a new ordinance this past week requiring most cats and dogs to be spay or neutered by four months of age, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. The ordinance, which passed the city council by a vote of 5 to 2, is an effort to help curb pet overpopulation.
The ordinance takes effect April 1 and will be reviewed annually. It is in response to Southern Nevada’s pet overpopulation problem and had support from local veterinarians and animal rescue groups, according to the Review-Journal.
It's noted that the Lied Animal Shelter, which services Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and unincorporated areas of Clark County, has seen its number of impounded dogs increase 10 percent a year for the past three years, and its cat intakes up five percent annually. Overall, the shelter takes in about 50,000 animals a year; half are euthanized because owners or new homes can't be found. Of the animals the Lied shelter takes in, 86 percent are not sterilized.
Exceptions to the new ordinance are individuals with a breeder, animal handler or fancier permit, and for pets that qualify for a medical exemption. Violating the ordinance will be a misdemeanor.
For more information: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Comments
This is a good decision
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Whoa whoa, you mean they weren't spaying and neutering the strays? W T F people. This is a good idea, I can't believe it took till the end of 2009 to realise that it was.
Of course they weren't neutering the stays, they killed them (if the owner could not be found).
What'd be the point of neutering them if you are about to euthanize them?
Four months is too early, medically speaking, to spay or neuter. Six months is safer.
Unfortunately this is a typical diversion tactic used by the Animal Welfare system. I know, because I have worked in AW for 20 years. Rather than taking responsibility shelters are blaming the community and passing laws that affect the community and ultimately the animals adversely. While I would love to see a day when all pets are altererd. It is wrong to legislate this. Animal welfare should be educating and proviing tools and resources to pet owners. Instead fewer than 20% of pets in our country come from shelters and the number one cause of death to pets is death by injection in a shelter. The animal welfare field as a whole is failing. Blaming the community will not change that.
Barb - Thanks for covering this good news. I look forward to reviewing the statistics in a few years when the killing numbers will be reduced.
Legislation by itself doesn't work is this Veterinarian's opinion. What is sadly lacking is public education, use every media PSA's anything to educate the public. Involve celebreties, Micheal Vick owes a debt to animals.
Four months is way too soon... it could cause developmental problems with the pets that could lead to serious medical complications down the road, ex: male cats are at a higher risk for urinary tract problems if neutered before they are mature enough.
bad thing to start -- of course it will eventually help to eliminate pets entirely which is what some animal organizations want.. have done tnr for 20 years and spay/neuter all mine but I want it done later for certain dogs and do not want it legislated. what a shame. not good news. not a good decision.
"...of course it will eventually help to eliminate pets entirely which is what some animal organizations want."
major WT um you know?
Do have ANY idea how many animals are in America right now who are starving, abused? The major reason is that (like people)
There are TOO MANY OF THEM!. Sterilizing will not drive them extinct bozo (or bozo-ette). It will lower their numbers, therby giving more and better chances to the ones who will be born.
Now quit watching Faux news and go to your room until you learn to think, young man!
Neutering animals at 4 months of age is medically dangerous. Ask ANY veterinarian.
Road to hell, good intentions, all that...
This is the hole you could drive a truck through..."Exceptions to the new ordinance are individuals with a breeder, animal handler or fancier permit..."
Breeders--also known as puppy mill operators are the worst offenders.
To everyone stating that four months is too early, you are somewhat misinformed. For cats, four months is the recommended age for spay or neuter. You do not want cats to attain full sexual maturity. Female dogs, though, are recommended to go through one estrous cycle. Admittedly, education is best. Providing low-cost options for animal care is crucial. But since the vast majority of the population can't seem to think for itself, legislation is necessary.
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