New Data
Shows Shelter & Euthanasia Rates After
Los Angeles Spay/Neuter Law
LA Shelter Admissions and Euthanasia 11 Times Higher
Than State Average, Predict Disaster If SB 250
(spay/neuter) Becomes
State Law
by
John Yates -
American Sporting Dog Alliance
SACRAMENTO,
CA (July 10. 2009) –
Yesterday, the California Department of Public Health
released 2008 annual data for every county’s animal
shelter system.
In comparison to 2007 data, last year saw an expected
increase in shelter admissions, owner surrenders,
abandoned dogs and euthanasia rates that can be
attributed mostly to the severe recession that has
devastated the entire state’s economy.
But one county’s animal control and sheltering program
stood out as being 11 times worse off than the rest of
the state: Los Angeles County, which passed a mandatory
spay and neuter ordinance last year. The data
conclusively proves the murderous impact of pet
sterilization mandates that far exceeds anything that
can be attributed to the statewide recession.
This data has special importance now, as the California
Assembly is considering Senate Bill 250, which would
mandate the sterilization of almost every dog in the
state, either directly or indirectly. If California
follows the path of destruction caused by the Los
Angeles ordinance, passage of SB 250 will become an
unfunded mandate to the counties to handle 11 times as
many dogs and cats at animal shelters, and to kill 11
times more of them, the data shows clearly.
If the state mirrors the Los Angeles statistics,
counties would have to pay for handling 4.4 million dogs
and cats a year (up from 402,430 in 2008), and killing
1.7 million dogs (up from 153,793 in 2008).
It is IMPERATIVE for California dog owners and animal
lovers to make this information available to members of
the California General Assembly, and especially to
members of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, which
has set a July 15 hearing on SB 250. Contact information
will be provided below.
Here is a summary of yesterday’s release of the
statewide shelter data:
-
In 2008, 404,430
animals were admitted to shelters statewide, an
increase of 42,422 from 2007. That is an
11.8-percent increase.
-
In 2008, 96,630
animals were admitted to the Los Angeles County
sheltering system, which is a 55,178 increase from
2007. This is a 133-percent increase in the year
after a spay/neuter mandate was passed into law. If
compared to the state, it is apparent that Los
Angeles County alone exceeded the entire statewide
increase in shelter admissions, and is 11 times
higher than the state average.
-
Euthanasia data is
equally dramatic. In 2008, the entire state saw a
16.4-percent increase in euthanasia, to 153,793 (an
increase of 21,677).
-
However, almost all of
the entire statewide increase in shelter euthanasia
came from Los Angeles County alone, in the year
following a mandatory pet sterilization ordinance.
The Los Angeles County shelter system euthanasia
rate rose by an incredible 178-percent in the year
following the ordinance. In 2007, 12,118 dogs had to
be killed in the county. In 2008, this soared to
33,601 dogs.
The American Sporting Dog
Alliance wants our readers to check out the official
shelter data, and to verify that all of our assertions
are true and accurate. We are not exaggerating. This is
how the official data adds up.
Here is a link to view the data:
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/LocalRabiesControlActivities.aspx
The data shows many other
things that accurately predict the bloody outcome of a
mandatory pet sterilization law, such as SB 250.
In Los Angeles, following the spay/neuter ordinance,
this has included a 107-percent increase in animal
control captures of abandoned dogs, a 163-percent
increase in owner surrenders by people who cannot afford
to keep their pets and comply with the law, and a
153-percent increase in abandoned dogs brought to the
shelters by good Samaritans, the official state data
shows.
The images of what would happen statewide if SB 250
passes are truly frightening to comprehend, based on
what actually has happened in Los Angeles, and what also
has happened in every community in America that has
passed a similar law.
The results will be dramatic increases in municipal
costs for animal control and sheltering, with the most
terrible price paid by the millions of dogs that will be
killed needlessly because of this kind of law.
The American Sporting Dog Alliance is urging all
California dog owners to take immediate action, before
the Assembly Committee on Appropriations holds a hearing
on SB 250 on July 15. It is urgent that a large number
of Californians – not just dog owners, but everyone who
cares - express clear opposition to SB 250, which is
very close to being passed into law.
Remember that the
Appropriations Committee deals mostly with financial
aspects of legislation, such as the outlay of government
funds.
The California Legislature
is slated to adjourn on July 18 for summer recess, and
SB 250 could face a vote of the full Assembly on July
17..
To read our analysis of the
legislation, please visit:
http://eaglerock814.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=48
To read the actual text of
the legislation, go to:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0201-0250/sb_250_bill_20090528_amended_sen_v95.html
Lessons From Dallas
Spay/Neuter Mandate - Californians
Could Face $50 million Unfunded Mandate Based On Dallas
Experience - MA, FL, IL & AZ Take Note
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