AB 1634 Opposition Points 6/28/07

Mandatory Spay/Neuter of all animals by 6 months of age absent an intact permit for limited cases:

Ø      The decision of when to s/n a pet should be made by the pet owner with the advise of a veterinarian and not by government interference.

Ø      Few breeders of pedigreed cats will be able to meet the conditions for obtaining an intact permit. Many cats important for breeding purposes will not meet the criteria for an intact permit.

Ø      Up to 95% of owned cats are spay/neutered without government interference in this decision.

Ø      Most cats/kittens in shelters are unowned feral or stray cats or are owner relinquished for personal reasons.

Ø      Many members of the cat fancy are involved in educating the public, breed rescue and feral cat programs individually and at cat shows which bring millions of dollars into the state. This activity will be diminished if AB 1634 passes.

Cost to local jurisdictions and animal control:

Ø      Each jurisdiction will have to use resources to determine if their laws comply with AB 1634 or to bring the local law into compliance. If any changes are required, that means staff time, legal expenses, public meetings, studies for administrative costs, develop a breeder licensing plan, and develop an enforcement plan. AB 1634 will increase complaints demands a response from animal control.

Ø      Fixed costs of shelters will not decrease. Despite human population growth in California, the numbers of animals in shelters has decreased without such punitive and onerous legislation. People will expect that adoptable animals will be kept in shelters longer as numbers decrease and space is available.

Ø      High fines will decrease involvement in managing feral cats through trapping and neutering.

Ø      Licensing rates will decrease reducing revenue and animal control costs increase as has happened in other jurisdictions with similar laws such as Rhode Island,  Montgomery County, Maryland, and Santa Cruz, California.

Ø      Complaint driven enforcement creates community ill-will.

Ø      Low cost spay/neuter programs are necessary for low or moderate income pet owners who do not otherwise have access to affordable veterinary care. High fines do not make veterinary care more affordable.

No amendments can rectify the problems with AB 1634.