The California Healthy Pets Act would require all cats and dogs to be spayed or neutered. (Stock photo) |
California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) recently introduced the California Healthy Pets Act (AB 1634). The proposed legislation will require all cats and dogs more than 4 months old to be spayed or neutered unless the owner obtains an intact animal permit. Pet owners that do not comply with the provisions of the proposed bill might be liable for a civil penalty of $500 for each animal that is not altered.
The law would help curb pet overpopulation and reduce the numbers of cats and dogs euthanized in California each year, Levine said.
“We simply have a huge problem in the state with pet overpopulation,” he said. “It’s a huge public safety and public health issue.”
Some cat and dog enthusiasts, including organized breed organizations, say the bill contains provisions that could adversely impact responsible breeding programs. The American Kennel Club notes that the bill language does not specify a set fee for acquiring a permit for an intact animal, leaving that amount to the discretion of local jurisdictions.
City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo’s office drafted the bill, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa strongly supports it. Los Angeles County already has such a law on the books, as does the state of Rhode Island.
To view the complete version of the California Healthy Pets Act, click here.