Florida Legislators Might be Barking at the Moon
By Greg Pollock
Florida HB451 is already inciting controversy, even before the bill has found a committee. The piece of legislation makes mandatory the sterilization of all pets over the age of four months, with an included 30-day grace period. The bill also provides some dubious exemptions, including racing animals, such a greyhounds, other competition animals, service animals, and those for whom “sterilization would endanger the animal’s health because of its age, infirmity, disability, illness, or other medical consideration[s].”
Opponents of the bill claim that forcing pet owners to sterilize their pets is not only a violation of owner rights, but of the pets themselves. The American Kennel Club (AKC), the most notable registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States, is in opposition of HB451, issuing the public statement via their website: “It is vital that all breeders and concerned dog owners in Florida contact their elected state legislators and voice their strong opposition to this unreasonable and unenforceable measure.” The AKC’s view isn’t surprising, considering the legislation’s exemption on sterilization for licensed breeding dogs comes as no consolation to an organization that specifies dogs should be no younger than 8 months before breeding. Under the proposed legislation, no newborn dogs would live long enough to even reach the AKC’s determined breeding age before being sterilized. Other opponents to the bill argue a similar case against its listed exemptions: that any racing greyhound or competition animal will also not be performing until after the specified 4 months. In essence, very few of the listed exemptions are even possible in modern pet practice.
The issue is particularly complex because advocates both for and against the bill feel they are protecting pet rights. Those opposed opine that their pets are being mutilated, while those in favor of the bill espouse the protection of the potential offspring of unsterilized pets. Animal shelters and animal rescuers have been vocal in their support of HB451. The text of the bill argues “many euthanized dogs and cats are the offspring of family pets” and that “one unneutered male dog or cat can impregnate dozens of females, leading to hundreds of unwanted animals.” Opponents to the bill argue that the language of the bill itself uses poor data and misrepresented information to push its agenda.
Californians may remember when the same law passed in the city of Los Angeles last February by a 10 to 1 vote of the city council. This victory hardly set a precedent for pet sterilization across the nation, as many opponents of HB 451 worry might happen. It did, however, attract some news attention, as INXS member Garry Beers and noted pet sterilization advocate Bob Barker were present to commemorate the legislation’s passing.
If the allegedly shaky language and incorrect facts of Florida’s HB 451 cause trouble when it finds a committee, Floridians may not be out of dog house yet: Florida HB 189 seeks to remove local regulations on breeding for “dangerous dogs,” giving some opponents to the bill fears that the legislature may backdoor the issue county by county if a more sweeping legislation fails.
ok 
cancel
“Opponents of the bill claim that forcing pet owners to sterilize their pets is not only a violation of owner rights, but of the pets themselves.”
This is the first line of the second paragraph. However, I have just visited the page where a link to the pdf of the bill and comments are posted. Of all opposing comments currently posted (previously there were 12 others, all opposed, including mine which have disappeared from the site) not one mentions mutilation as a reason for opposing this bill.
I have actually just had a male neutered for over $200.00, and I oppose this bill. I had him neutered because I understand the benefits. I have been educated. And this is what we need. Education.
I am part of a breed rescue. It is sad to see these poorly bred animals who do not have a breeder that can be held accountable for their existence. The people who adopt them must carry the burden of their health issues and accept the temperament as it comes. Any dogs that come in with a pedigree that leads back to a hobby breeder will be returned to that breeder. Not so with dogs that come from brokers, or commercial breeders or the pet owner who obtained a pet from one of these sources and thinks they want to breed for whatever reason.
AKC opposes such bills because they know that hobby breeders are the best source for a well bred and socialized pet. If this bill passes, it will adversely affect breeding programs which require genetic diversity. Many breeds will suffer in the name of doing good. Yet bad people will continue doing bad things, ignoring ethics and laws.
The opposition is concerned about losing yet another grip on our rights. We do believe that desexing is a proper course of action under the right circumstances- and that decision is between me and my vet. Animal Rights people are allowed to have their opinion in my book, but I oppose their will being foisted upon me. I know that my animals enjoy their life and that God created us to live together benefiting each other mutually. God will punish those that abuse His creatures if the existing laws on Florida’s books are not enforced.
Each dog pound spends over a million dollars in County monies to kill dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens-county monies that also fund public schools, law enforcement, even health care for indigent people. EXAMPLES OF COUNTY EXPENSES: ALL FIGURES TAKEN DURING 2007 FISCAL YEAR-WHEN THE ECONOMY WAS IN FAR BETTER SHAPE. THE COST HAS VERY MUCH ESCALATED SINCE THIS–PROBABLY DOUBLED–
I have written enquiries to every single County in the State of Florida, and I can tell you on the average, it costs each county over a million dollars a year to man a dog pound. I can provide you the data I have (not all counties responded, or even refused to respond)-but many have. Here are some examples: Miami-Dade spent ~~TEN MILLION DOLLARS~~ in 2007, 33,000 animals killed; In Polk County, FL $2.4 MILLION was operating costs for 2007-25,331 dogs/cats impounded, 18,662 were put to death. Lake County, FL (2007): $1.75 million in operating costs, and 10,442 animals were killed. Escambia County, FL (2007): $1,384,840.00 cost-16,176 dogs/cats impounded, 11,725 killed. 2007, Hillsborough County: $8,353,604.00 cost. 33,263 impounded-26,727 KILLED. Animal services in Pinellas County, FL cost: $5,439,310.00 (2007): 19,209 dogs/cats impounded.; 11,228 killed. Jacsonville, FL alone killed 24,000 dogs/cats last year, costing millions of dollars.
Those figures are when the economy was in much better shape. Well, homeless animals have tripled if not quadrupled since 2007. Therefore, the cost of dog pounds have increased accordingly!!!
County monies mean SCHOOLS and LAW ENFORCEMENT, which the State reimburses. SCHOOL and LAW ENFORCEMENT funds are being cut, but the cost of pounds grow every year-due to the horrendous countless thousands of homeless cats and dogs, it is evident most people are NOT spay/neutering their pets. Why? They don’t have to! There is NO LAW against it. ALREADY THERE ARE LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FREE FOR PEOPLE ON SOCIAL ASSISTANCE, BUT THEY REFUSE TO USE THEM. Why? They don’t have to! There is an old saying, people get away with what they are allowed to get away with. Irresponsible pet owners are no exception to this rule. ALso when people fail to not spay/neuter their pet-they are highly unlikely to get their dog or cat vaccinated. You have to remember these are irresponsible people. At least with a law it *clearly* says-this is NOT tolerated!! WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM IN SOCIETY, YOU CREATE A LAW TO HELP SOLVE IT-HOMELESS ANIMALS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM!
Most people get a kitten as a toy for their kids; most just throw the cats outdoors and just give them food. A KITTEN CAN START BREEDING AS LITTLE AS FOUR MONTHS OLD!!! CATS BREED LIKE RABBITS!!! THE FREE TO GOOD HOME ads keep on coming, and people adopt these “free to good home” animals for snake food, and other cruelty. I have even seen reports-and videos-of caucasion men and women using free to good home KITTENS for shark fishing-they impale them still alive and use them as fishing bait. The cruelty is endless what happens in those “free to good home” pets. No cost, they are free-so people use them for snake food and fishing bait (I can forward you the video if you want-but you won’t want to see it-it’s pretty bad and has traumatized me).
I am seeing in the news quite frequenlty how cities and communities CANNOT cope with homeless and stray cat populations. Keep in mind, according to the CDC, about 300 cats every year in the United States CONTRACT RABIES-known cases only. Homeless animals can spread a host of other diseases to both humans and pets. (Approximately 80 dogs a year in the United States get rabies.) I have also seen reports of people calling “911″ due to dog packs; homeless dogs form such packs. What if we ever have a bird flu breakout? Cats are excellent carriers of bird flu.
FLORIDA RABIES!
IN FLORIDA IN 2007, THERE WERE 26 CASES OF KNOWN RABIES IN CATS.
http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/docs/rabies_surveillance_us_2007.pdf
STRAY/HOMELESS CATS ALSO TRANSMIT FECAL DISEASES THAT CAN SPREAD TO CHILDREN (they use play sandboxes for litter boxes).
Keep in mind irresponsible people do not spay/neuter their pet, especially a mutt or mixed breed-and refuse to use low cost (even free) spay/neuter options. This law will help deter irresponsible people from getting a pet as a transient toy for their child. It will deter kittens/puppies “free to good home” ads due to the necessity of spay/neutering. I CANNOT STRESS FURTHER THAT SPAY/NEUTERING IS A MINIMUM STANDARD OF CARE-AND People who do not spay/neuter will also NOT likely to vaccinate their pets. This law will give them an incentive to THINK before adopting, “hey this cat (or dog) takes a lot of work!” Yes, animals do. It’s called caring for them.
Bottom line what we have now, even with low cost (and free for social assistance people) spay/neuter options is not working. Unless you are willing to accept the bankruptcy of the State and cuts in health care, school system, and law enforcement-then go ahead and reject this bill. But do NOT complain when this happens. And trust me-it will.
In Response to Luke Thomas’s response. You stated and I quote,”Keep in mind irresponsible people do not spay/neuter their pet, especially a mutt or mixed breed-and refuse to use low cost (even free) spay/neuter options.”
I agree irresponsible people do not spay and neuter their mixed breed pets. What makes you think that another law on the books will change that? It is already a requirement in every county in the state that pets be vaccinated and licensed. Irresponsible people do not follow that law either. Unless we did a house to house check of pets, which will not happen, because one it would be extremely expensive and two it would be unconstitutional, there is no way to enforce such a law.
If such a law would pass, many irresponsible people would turn in their pets. Yet many others would just cover up the accidental pregnancies by quietly disposing of the puppies and kittens.
Additionally this law specifically excludes one of the worst offenders. The Greyhound industry.
Public education is the key. Not more intrusive government.
I am a lifelong responsible pet owner. Some of the dogs I have owned have been altered, some have not. I have never had an accidental breeding, or produced a single unwanted puppy. I have had various reasons for leaving some pets unaltered. But the decision has always been mine. The government does not have the right to make forced medical decisions on animals I have purchased, cared for, trained and loved. That decision is mine and soley mine. This bill would not stand up to court tests. That is a route I am willing and prepared to go if need be.
Has it ever occurred to you that huge amounts of people throw their cats out on the streets as though it were trash once the “cute kitten” phase is gone-? Why do you think we have millions of homeless cats all over Florida. People really would care less about them. I am referring even BEFORE the economy went into a state of grave recession (more like a depression). You would be surprise how cruel people really truly are. Surprisingly huge quantities of people lack any kind of conscience whatsoever.
These numbers are even GREATER–now people are dumping their animals on the streets as a solution to cutting back on expenses: MILLIONS MORE are going to be ejected on the streets just from the economy.
And these homeless cats-millions all over Florida-is of grave consequences in terms of expense for each county, and the risks for RABIES outbreak is even greater; summer months especially and Florida is already a state high in the rabies department even when the economy was better. Homeless cats can also spread toxoplasmosis and parasitical worms in the communities as they use children sand boxes for their toilet and kids put anything and everything into their mouths.
Regardless the bill was rewritten and “mandatory” was struck out. It would collect surcharges for any kind of animal ordinance or animal cruelty violation to fund low cost spay/neutering for people who wish to VOLUNTARILY take their pet in for spay/neutering.
The Florida legislature may even not pass that-which means basically DO NOTHING. You wait and see – and if don’t believe a RABIES OUTBREAK is not possible, the State of Arizona-the ENTIRE STATE-has a rabies alert. Some counties in Florida already are in rabies alert status.
Coyotes are also breeding like crazy. You know why? They have plenty of food. You see, the more coyotes eat,the more they breed. They truly enjoy the taste of cat and dog meat so plentiful all over the state as they become easy prey for sick and starving homeless cats and dogs all over Florida. Coyotes LOVE cat meat!
The solution? Do nothing.
Remember in Agnola, Africa, 92 children have died of rabies outbreaks. Due to epidemics of homeless animals.
SPRING IS HERE AND THE CATS ARE BREEDING!
Breed, Baby, Breed! It’s the Florida way
Leave your response!
Recent Posts
Categories
Tags