I was disappointed in the article "Spay-neuter law works in Santa Cruz" It seemed lacking in the usual exploration of the opinions offered. Even the facts stated in the article didn't seem to support the title that says the program is successful. One item I noted was "In fact, dog licenses have stayed the same -- about 7,000 a year -- since Santa Cruz made spaying and neutering mandatory." Why has licensing remained the same? The county population has increased. So if people are licensing and if dogs "aren't disappearing" then licensing should have increased as well. Why hasn't it?
The comment on dropping intake and euthanasia sounds like their law "worked" until you compare that rate to neighboring communities. I would have expected to see that comparision in an article that honestly explores claims made by proponents. I would expect comparison to the surrounding counties and to state-wide statistics. Otherwise you can't show cause and effect. Correlation is not causation. If that isn't taped up on the wall as a reminder to challenge assumptions, I recommend putting it there.
The article stated "As does the proposed state law, Santa Cruz grants exceptions for breeders and dog show enthusiasts." That statement is incorrect. First, the Santa Cruz ordinance provides for intact permits to any dog owner. No convoluted and uncertain criteria. If a dog owner has not violated the enumerated animal control regulations that owner may get a permit. Second, AB 1634 does not provide exceptions. It sets limits to the ability of a local jurisdiction to issue intact permits. The Santa Cruz ordinance will be illegal under AB1634 because it does not impose the restrictive requirements enumerated in the bill. The differences between AB 1634 and the Santa Cruz ordinance are important. I recommend reading both and comparing their provisions. Do you not think there is a likely to be a difference in result between a county that pays for the spay and neuter if the owner is indigent, and a law that makes no such provisions?
And I was struck by this quote "Here in Santa Cruz, people sorta ignore the whole thing and do what they want to anyway." This is success? Actually it is true. People do pretty much ignore it. So it isn't effective locally, and it won't be effective state-wide. Reductions in shelter intake and euthanasia vary from one community to the next more because of cultural and economic differences than because of laws. That is one factor that makes this bill such a very bad idea. It tries to impose global solutions on regional problems. Check into the enforcement rate. Check into issuance of breeder permits. Do this not just for Santa Cruz but all the agency claiming spay and neuter works. How do their numbers compare to communities without such provisions?
Maybe it is time to start collecting and look at the statistics. Look at cats vs dogs. Look at rates of change, not just raw numbers. Look at rates to population.
San Luis Obispo County Animal Services Dr. Eric Anderson “We haven't had to euthanize an adoptable animal in about two years.” *
Placer SPCA Leilani Vierra, PSPCA's executive director "We haven't euthanized an adoptable animal simply because they don't have a home, for over four years now."
Peninsula Humane Society "In 2005, approximately 15,000 animals were taken in, among whom all the medically suitable animals were thence adopted into qualified homes."
(Sorry, lost my original sources for those quotes, but it would be better to ask them directly anyway)
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Diane B.
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Created: April 2, 2007
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