[RDOWS]

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/palm/blog/
February 5, 2008

County commissioners approve pet-spay law

> Posted by Mark Hollis at 4:50 PM

[FONT='Trebuchet MS','sans-serif']After more than 30 years of debate and study over methods of controlling the dog and cat population in Palm Beach County, commissioners this afternoon approved 5-1 a new law aimed at reducing the number of pets killed at the county’s animal shelter.[/font]
[FONT='Trebuchet MS','sans-serif']Commissioner Burt Aaronson made the formal motion to pass the ordinance.[/font]
[FONT='Trebuchet MS','sans-serif']“I can’t see killing one animal. Dogs are man’s best friend. And I don’t know anybody in this audience who would want to kill their best friend,” said Aaronson.[/font]
[FONT='Trebuchet MS','sans-serif']Commissioner Bob Kanjian cast the sole dissenting vote. Commissioner Jeff Koons was absent from the meeting.[/font]
[FONT='Trebuchet MS','sans-serif']“Today, our decision is not whether or not something is wrong, there is a problem (with too many unwanted animals),” Kanjian said before voting. “The choice is whether you think this ordinance will solve our problem…And I think our government can do better than this ordinance.”[/font]
[FONT='Trebuchet MS','sans-serif']The votes came before a packed audience of more than 100 supporters and opponents.[/font]
[FONT='Trebuchet MS','sans-serif']Many opponents held yellow sheets reading “Bad Ordinance.” But the crowd was divided among supporters and opponents of the measure, which imposes new regulations for pet owners.[/font]
[FONT='Trebuchet MS','sans-serif']The ordinance would require all pet owners to sterilize their animals unless they sign an affidavit agreeing not to breed them. They would be required to buy a $75 “unaltered” tag, and the permits must be renewed each year.[/font]
[FONT='Trebuchet MS','sans-serif']Many dog breeders and groups like the American Kennel Club have opposed the ordinance, saying that it punishes responsible pet owners while encouraging residents not to license their pets. Critics also have warned commissioners of dire economic outcomes should the ordinance be approved. AKC leaders have said their events would not be welcome in Palm Beach County.[/font]
[FONT='Trebuchet MS','sans-serif']Backers, though, said the ordinance is essential to reduce the number of animals killed at the county’s shelter. In 2007, 16,288 dogs and cats were killed at the shelter, most of them cats.[/font]
[FONT='Trebuchet MS','sans-serif']During her introduction of the ordinance beginning today's debate, Dianne Sauve, the county's Animal Care and Control director, said "spaying and neutering is good public policy," and that leaving the animals unaltered "costs taxpayers" in shelter and euthanasia costs, and leads to more animal-on-animal attacks, and dog-on-human bites.[/font]__,_._,___