To spay or neuter?

Our California Legislators are at it again with Assembly Bill 1634, by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine. It proposes forcing all pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs and cats. Anyone not complying could face a $500 fine, plus $50 for each month neutering is not done. Collected fines would be given to animal control agencies, “to help pay for free and low cost spay and neuter programs.”

The overpopulation of unwanted pets needs to be controlled, true.

Local animal control reports that they put to death some 2,000 or more unwanted animals each year, which is a terrible commentary on area pet owners who won’t be responsible for their pets, leaving them free to roam and reproduce with whatever dog or tomcat comes along. They produce many “Heinz 57” puppies that are not wanted, and too many kittens for available homes, so they are dumped and must be killed. SHAME!

When I began raising registered Toy Fox Terrier puppies, forty-six years ago, and again sixteen years ago, I looked into buying a kennel license, but found it excessively high for the few dogs I keep.

Instead, I license and control them.

Now that I am no longer raising puppies, I don’t let my dogs breed.

We just finished a heat period, with no ‘accidents’ though they are indoor house dogs.

It can be done, in spite of the old saying, “You bar the door, board up the windows, put a board over the chimney, but sometimes, the inevitable happens,” It is only inevitable if the owner allows it to happen. It may not be easy, but it can be done, with constant vigilance and control, with leashes, fences, dog porters and closed doors.

Many people don’t know what to watch for when their female comes in season, for three full weeks, about every six months. Male dogs begin sniffing eagerly, but the female will snap and fight them that first week.

Examine the vulva which will be swollen with perhaps a trace of blood. Lock her up! The second and third week the female will accept a dog, becoming frantic. I always add a day or two to the twenty-one, just to be certain the female is “safe.”

Lloyd Levine needs to “go back to the drawing board.” Assembly Bill 1634 is not the answer. It would work a hardship on responsible breeders and owners who are not part of the problem.