Chicago reconsiders mandatory sterilization
Mandatory pet sterilization is back on the table in Chicago, and this time the City Council sponsor says he expects his proposal, revised to lessen the fines, to win approval.
Under the new proposal from Alderman Ed Burke, a third offense for not neutering or spaying a pet before they turn 6 months old would trigger a fine of $100 per month. His earlier proposal called for a $500 fine.
A mandatory spay/neuter law was proposed last summer, and former TV game show host Bob Barker came to Chicago to support it, saying it would cut down on the numbers of stray dogs and cats euthanized each year.
But the Chicago and Illinois State Veterinary Medical Associations opposed the measure, saying decisions about sterilization were best left to pet owners and their veterinarians, according to the Chicago Tribune. The proposal never came to a vote.
The proposal is expected to be voted on at a committee meeting Thursday.
Posted by jwoestendiek March 10th, 2009 under Muttsblog.
Tags: cats, chicago, dogs, fines, law, mandatory, neuter, ordinance, proposal, required, spay, sterilization
