Posted: June 4, 2009 3:00 a.m. EDT
An amended version of California Senate Bill would require cats and dogs to be sterilized at 6 months of age. |
The California State Senate on Tuesday approved SB 250, a measure that seeks to require pet sterilization for most of the state’s cats and dogs. The 21-16 vote sent the bill to the Assembly for consideration.
SB 250, also known as the Pet Responsibility Act by Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, failed in the Senate on Monday with a vote of 16-15. It needed 21 votes to pass. However, a second vote for “reconsideration” was taken and passed, allowing Senate members to revote on Tuesday.
The bill calls on cat owners to spay or neuter their cats at 6 months of age if the cats are allowed to roam at large. The bill also requires the sterilization of all dogs at 6 months of age, unless the owner gets an unaltered dog license.
The amended bill authorizes local governments to use existing procedures to issue the intact dog licenses or to charge a fee for procedures related to the issuance, denial or revocation of unaltered dog licenses.
Florez agreed Tuesday to exempt hunting and working dogs from the measure and to ensure it will not apply to an animal escaping its yard for the first time.