TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

State Lawmaker's Bark Aimed At Wrong Tree

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2009

Many Floridians are howling mad about legislation that would mandate sterilization of dogs and cats, and they should be.

The bill, filed last month by state Rep. Scott Randolph of Orlando, overreaches. Considering the state's escalating financial crisis and other pressing matters, lawmakers should kennel it.

Under the legislation, "the owner of every dog or cat" in Florida would be required to have them sterilized by a veterinarian within 30 days after the animal turns four months old or within that same amount of time after the person takes custody of it.

There are exemptions for racing Greyhounds and for dogs and cats used for show, competitions and law enforcement, military and rescue operations. In addition, guide and service animals are exempt, as are animals for which owners have valid breeding permits.

And exemptions would be made in cases where owners can prove that the surgical procedure would endanger their animals' health.

Its understandable Randolph would want to do something about the overpopulation of domestic cats and dogs. It is a huge problem. Unless contained, these animals can pose public health and safety dangers while roaming free.

The failure of pet owners to prevent their animals from wildly reproducing burdens government-run shelters, where workers are expected to care for them until they are adopted. Often these animals must be euthanized.

But to put such a heavy leash around all pet owners is drastic and intrusive.
Responsible owners who don't want to breed their animals do not hesitate to have them spayed or neutered. These owners also know that dogs or cats must not be allowed to run free.

The bill also fails to take into account some perfectly legitimate scenarios. For example, a pet owner with a purebred dog may want to maintain the option of breeding for a variety of reasons. An owner should have that right.

The widely respected American Kennel Club opposes mandatory spay and neuter laws for purebred dogs, pointing out, correctly, that they are unreasonable and an enforcement nightmare.

The bill is a perfect example. Enforcement would be left to counties and municipalities, which would have to adopt ordinances to exempt animals in applicable circumstances. These entities have more important things to do, especially considering budget cuts that are reducing services.

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance also raises another concern: "There are no protections ... that can give sportsmen any level of comfort that they won't be forced to spay/neuter their accomplished hunting dogs," points out Rob Sexton, vice president of government affairs.

Nor should lawmakers overlook the possibility that pet owners who don't comply with a spay and neuter law could chose to stop getting veterinary care for their animals out of fear of prosecution.

The key to reducing dog and cat overpopulations is to continue educating residents about responsible pet ownership - Hillsborough and Pasco officials do a very good job of this - and increasing local penalties for those who allow their dogs to run loose.

Thoughtless individual owners who fail to control their pets should face consequences. But the state should not treat every owner of a dog or cat as an untrustworthy miscreant.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT