Las Vegas Enacts Mandatory Spay/Neuter Law
Pets over four months of age must now be neutered if they live in Las Vegas.
http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/21656977/detail.html
Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:
You have questions. 
So this law states that all pets 4 months and older have to be neutered. How do you feel about this law, Dr. Barchas?
So it can be done! To all the critics out there who claim it “cannot work”, well then, I guess since this passed you have nothing to worry about. If it does not work, same old overpopulation crap and no skin off your ass.
If it does work, less puppies produced overall.
I for one just flat out hate intact dogs…don’t want to hear your snotty excuses.
I have mixed feelings on this. I think its a good thing b/c dogs and cats do need to be “fixed” But if you have a law like this there has to be clinics set up to help those that cant afford to get their pet fixed. I know I know if you cant afford it you shouldnt have a pet. Well i disagree with that. Living in a city where there are homeless people everywhere you look and they have dogs and they scrounch food for their dogs just as they do for themselves. I dont think just because you dont have money doesnt mean you cant have a dog. sometimes its all a person has.
Lisa you said you flat out hate intact dogs and you dont want to hear snotty excuses? Well what happened if everyone got their dogs and cats fixed? sure there wouldnt be overpopulation, but there would also be NO population at all. Please make yourself more clear next time.
Lisa i hope that you are not intact. Your way of thinking would eliminate all pets,Some of us would rather spend our days with furry friends, than with ignorant humans.
I totally agree with this law.
Just wait-It’s coming to your city too. Not just for pets, but for people too!
Well Lisa, I’ve had a good number of bad experiences with dogs that aren’t “intact” but I don’t hate them, I don’t hate any dog, and I think that’s an incredibly closed-minded statement you madet. Also, have you considered the health risks of altering dogs prior to six months of age? The only people that have reason to alter that early are animal shelters and rescues that can’t ensure future owners are going to alter their pets or can’t do a good screening process. You fail to understand that in several places mandatory altering hasn’t just “not affected the pet overpopulation”, it’s made that and other problems including licensing and vaccinating pets WORSE, in others the pet shelter population was not effected at all.
The problem is that there is so much more to pet overpopulation than just sterilization, sterilization won’t stop dogs from being taken to the pound for any of the following reasons:
* Owner(s) failed to train and/or socialize the dog and no longer want him/her because they don’t behave
* Owner is moving to a place that won’t allow pets or their breed of dog
* BSL is enacted in the area requiring dogs of certain breeds to either be removed from the state or impounded in shelters/animal control facilities
* Owner(s) dump off their dog because they are “too old”, “not cute anymore”, “too big now”, or sick
* Owner(s) dump off dog because their child(ren) aren’t caring for said dog anymore
* Owner(s) is/are having a child and no longer want the dog
* Owner(s) just get tired of the dog
* Landlord enacts a policy regulating pets over a certain size or of certain breeds forcing the owner(s) to get rid of their dog
* Owners don’t make a responsible choice or don’t research the breeds/dog they are interested in adequately
* Owner let(s) their dog run loose and fails to go get the dog when he/she is picked up by animal control
* Owner buys a dog from an irreputable breeder or puppy mill fueling the cycle
What it boils down to is education and a need for teaching people that dogs (and all other pets) aren’t disposable and that they are feeling, living beings as much as anyone. There is one county that has no mandatory altering or licensing and no breed specific ordinances and they have been successful with licensing rates, reducing shelter deaths, and overall increased responsible pet owenrship they do this by educating the public, enacting dangerous dog laws that are not breed, sex, or size specific, and keeping shelters open later and for extended days. If I’m not mistaken it’s Calgary that’s doing this.
I think most of you has ‘missed the point’ about Lisa’s comment that she “hates intact dogs”. First, being that she is participating in this ‘blog’, it’s highly unlikely that she hates any dog, she probably doesn’t appreciate intact males because of the potential to breed. I agree with mandatory spay/neuter laws. Every hour in the US, over 400 completely adoptable, healthy companion animals are slaughtered in our nation’s shelters and animal controls due to overpopulation. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that our current system regarding voluntary spay/neuter isn’t working. Also, even if all 50 states enacted mandatory spay/neuter, the US and the world wouldn’t be in any danger of the animal population birth rate being anywhere near zero. When I read that, I literally laughed out loud.
I have mixed feelings about this.. SAD part is..That our local veterinarians charge BIG MONEY for this procedure. And many families who would LOVE to own a pet, cant afford this.
Cats especially, who run loose and are outdoors. ..should have this done. And I feel that Due to the expense, this keeps many families from adopting a pet. And I am a strong believer that kids need a PET while growing up. Why cant veterinarians all get together in communities, and offer a special rate for people who need it. Perhaps more pets would be adoptable.
“Why cant veterinarians all get together in communities, and offer a special rate for people who need it.”
We already do, Kristy. Every colleague I know (hundreds) charges LESS than what it COSTS US to perform spays and neuters. In other words, when I spay or neuter my own pet, the cost of the drugs, materials, and equipment that I have to pay out of my own pocket to do the surgery is MORE than what we charge clients for the same thing. (And I don’t charge myself for my education, knowledge, or time, obviously.)
The public needs to understand that. We’ve ALREADY discounted spay and neuter fees dramatically, as our contribution to the problem. The public needs to do their part, too.
I need to add to that:
It is a strangely true phenomenon that a large percentage of people who “can’t afford” spaying/neutering seem to be able to afford cigarettes, lottery tickets, candy bars, daily coffee runs and/or soft drinks, cell phones with unlimited text plans, gameboys, computers with home Internet access, and other non-necessities. Yes that’s a generalization, but the exception is pretty rare.
It’s all a matter of prioritization and budgeting. They somehow always manage to figure out a way to pay for dog and cat food, don’t they? Cut out non-necessities, and it doesn’t take long at all to save up enough money for a basic spay/neuter….especially if that’s begun (as it should be) BEFORE the pet is purchased or adopted. (Another often-true generalization is that the same people who can’t “afford” spay/neuter surgery or even basic vaccinations are often proud of the fact that they just spent $500….or $200….or whatever $….to obtain said new pet, and that’s why they request financial assistance from us.)
I also have to say that although I totally agree with the spirit and intent of this law, I think the age limit needs to be flexible, BASED UPON the pet’s veterinarian’s discretion.
By that I mean: I have performed spays and neuters at 4, and even 3, months of age for years now. (Took me awhile to jump on the early-age bandwagon.) Still, the best age for each pet depends upon several factors, most importantly breed. For many breeds, I recommend 3-4 months of age; for others, 5-6 months of age; still others 7-10 months of age. I make that decision based upon what I, as its doctor, deem to be in the best interest of the longterm health of my patient. I haven’t read the exact wording of this particular law, but I would hope it would be such that the pet’s DOCTOR would have some wiggle room on the appropriate age as long as reproduction without a breeder’s license wasn’t allowed to occur.
As a veterinary technician I of course support this bill 100%. Most of you do not see the horrors we see everyday due over population and lack of basic pet information. There are many options for pet owners when it comes to low cost castrations and OHE’s, it just may take some time to find the right option and budget for each person. Some clinics offer wellness plans that you pay monthly for which covers theres procedures, and some offer Care Credit which is like a credit card for animal care. There are also breed organizations out there that help families in need, and shelters and rescues with tons of helpful information. It simply takes time and research but help can be found if someone looks. As for the cost, yes, its expensive, but think about what is involved: Pre-medication to make the pet more comfortable. anesthesia, monitoring equipment, staff time and knowledge, pain meds, fluids, iv catheters, induction agents, non of this is cheap for any clinic and believe me the mark up is not very high to cover our costs.
There will always be backyard breeders, and even licensed breeders who should not be breeding, so don’t worry about running out of pets, be grateful to the fact that maybe , if people can think outside their wallets when it comes to breeding, that we might be able to have less animals without proper homes and care.!
This is a good thing! Lets take care of the ones we have now!