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Animal activist and retired game-show host Bob Barker will testify before the Chicago City Council this morning, supporting a proposed ordinance that would require pet owners to spay or neuter their pets once they reach six months in age. "One of our most tragic animal problems is overpopulation and this ordinance would help immeasurably to solve that problem" Barker said in a statement released through Alderman Ed Burke's 14th Ward office. Burke, along with 19th Ward Alderman Virginia Rugai, is sponsoring the ordinance to reduce the number of homeless dogs and cats in the city.
The ordinance states that “no person shall own harbor or keep within the city of Chicago a dog or cat over six months of ages which has not been sterilized,” and would impose fines of up to $100, increasing to $500 for failure to comply within 30 days. Law enforcement dogs, animals a vet deems not healthy enough to undergo surgery, and animals owned by licensed breeders will be exempt. Burke also hopes the ordinance will help protect residents from unprovoked animal attacks. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, (PDF) dogs that are still "sexually intact" are 2.6 times more likely to be aggressive.
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The buried lede here is the licensing.
Backyard breeders are going to keep on keeping on, that's just a matter of course. You can't stop a lucrative illegal activity by passing legislation, just doesn't work.
What will happen is the city will find another revenue stream (yay! income redistribution!) and the cops will have another entree into your home. "We had a report of dog breeding on the premises, we need to check your-is that a bong sir?"
Out of town celebrities flying in to do a cameo for the city council is idiocy. Remember Loretta Swit and her big puffy lips crying for the poor tortured geese? Come now.
How do they know its 2.6 and not 2.5 times more likely?
Too bad all I can think of when I see Bob Barker and spay/neuter in a sentence is this Robot Chicken segment http://www.noob.us/humor/robot-chicken-bob-barker/
really? i think of his stint as the Miss Universe Pageant host in Futurama.
Ha. that's hilarious. The price is wrong, bitch!
Cmon now the handgun ordinance is such a success I'm sure this will end all the animal problems
The foie gras law of 2008!
Watch for lawsuits to kill it off if it's passed.
Com'on! If you study the matter, it is both better for the dogs' health (greatly reduces cancer in both males and females, reduces aggression and many claim helps them settle down and focus and be better trained -- think teenager hormones!). Further, think about the thousands of animals that are put to death (often not without pain and emotional distress)just because they are not wanted. There are soooo many dogs that need homes -- locally, check out Animal Care and Control (really sad) or PAWSChicago.org (for a story that shows what awareness can do; Nationally, check out the Humane Society of the US and the ASPCA. We humans have domesticated dogs and created this problem. Why not take responsibility for it? Have a heart!
Finally, if you don't have a heart, reach into your pocket. The cost of "disposing" of all these animals is huge. Thus, even the unfeeling have an interest.
I for one, wholly support anyone who speaks out for those without a voice. Why NOT help??
I am only half serious, as I believe that we should spay and neuter pets, but aren't we sterilizing dogs and cats that may not want to be sterilized? Isn't this torture? They can't consent to sterilization. So wouldn't this be against animal rights?
I'd be curious how Ingrid weighs in on this one...
Makeitright; I actually do agree with you. Plus many un-fixed dogs (males in particular but also females for breeding and "baiting") are used for dog fighting, especially in urban areas. And dog fighting is not only cruel, but tends to indicate bigger problems in the community like gangs, and drugs. Maybe they could could use it to gain entery to people's home, as Albanyparkour stated, but maybe that's not so bad if it can help bring down some of these gangs such. After all, they got Al Capone for tax evasion.
I own a dog who is nuetered and I find that most other people I know who own dogs also fix them. Most will tell you fixing your pet is the right thing to do. Yet they oppose this law because they feel it invades their privacy. I want to say to them "why are you opposed to a law that requires people do something you've already done, especially when you know its the right choice?" To me its like saying "well I don't drink and drive because its wrong, but I oppose a law that says I can't."
Besides, if breeders have to be liscensed and checked out, maybe it would help reduce shadey breeding operation like puppy mills. Obviously this isn't aimed at legitimate breeders, but at Average-Joe-dog-owner. And there's absolutley no reason he shouldn't have his pets fixed, even if Bob Baker should stay out of Chicago's business. The last thing we need to make this look credible is some celebrity flying in to make his case.
Of course it won't eliminate it completely but I think it could help reduce some of these problems.