A plan to control the pet population

Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005 | 2:29 a.m.

Residents of unincorporated Clark County soon may have to either sterilize their dogs and cats or pay $25 a year not to -- and also could face home inspections to ensure that Fido or Fluffy's friskiness is not contributing to a critical pet overpopulation problem.

Clark County officials insist, however, that a proposed ordinance would not take a painful bite out of pet owners' pocketbooks or privacy.

Despite the measure's sweeping authority, Joe Boteilho, the county's chief of code enforcement, said there would be no attempt to aggressively enforce it through massive door-to-door inspections.

Although anyone who buys the $25 annual permit to avoid sterilizing a pet would be subject to a home inspection, Boteilho said the ordinance will be directed primarily at households whose animals run loose or are involved in attacks, biting or other complaints.

"It will be seamless for most people," he said. "If you own a fertile animal, and it is never running loose and not breeding, we are not going to come to your home.

"I think what we are doing is truly a step for reducing the fertile animals that create the pet overpopulation in our community and subjects them to euthanasia."

A public hearing on the measure has been tentatively scheduled for Nov. 1.

Under the ordinance, anyone with an unsterilized dog or cat more than 3 months old would be required to buy a pet-fancier's permit at an annual cost of $25. Under current law, only owners of more than three dogs or cats must have the permits.

The proposed ordinance would permit inspectors to visit homes to check whether the unsterilized animals can be securely kept on the property.

Also, anyone who sells or gives away a dog or cat would be required to obtain a fancier's permit under the more stringent regulations that already govern pet stores, he said.

For those who do not comply with the ordinance, the county would go to justice court to seek an order to get the pet sterilized, officials said. Guide dogs and dogs used in law enforcement would be exempt.

The proposed ordinance is expected to generate controversy among pet owners, especially backyard dog breeders faulted for generating litters of puppies that, when grown, often end up at animal shelters.

Christopher Baker, a breeder of 15 years who lives in the Sunrise Mountain area, called the proposal a senseless plan that would mean expense and inconvenience for breeders and families with pets.

Neighbors' complaints about barking dogs could force owners to choose between sterilization or buying the $25 annual permit, he said.

"Some people would rather have their dogs natural, and some might to keep them that way for sentimental value because they decide to breed their dog," Baker said. "I think what they're doing is a little excessive."

That view is not shared by the Animal Foundation, a nonprofit group that operates the Lied Animal Shelter for Clark County, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas.

It has proposed an even tougher ordinance to reduce the pet overpopulation in unincorporated Clark County, suggesting that any animal captured on the street be spayed or neutered unless it has a tag of a registered and licensed breeder.

The shelter cares for about 60,000 cats and dogs a year, about one-third of which are euthanized, including 18 percent in poor health or dying when they are brought in, foundation spokesman Mark Fierro said.

Because not enough homes can be found for the animals, their breeding must be curtailed, he said. A single cat can produce 50,000 to 100,000 kittens, including those born to succeeding generations of its offspring.

"We think the county idea is a good start," Fierro said. "We are the ones that see ... just how much of a problem the fertility of animals is in the valley and the cost in animal suffering and in dollars to taxpayers.

"You can't kill your way out of (the problem) or adopt your way out of it, but we can fix this if we come up with a realistic ordinance."

Clark County, which spends $1.7 million annually on animal control, also will consider another ordinance requiring that all dogs and cats adopted from its shelter be spayed or neutered.

The move to change the laws comes as county officials are urging Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson to coordinate regulations to create consistency in animal control throughout the region.

Gary Weddle, Henderson's shelter administrator, said the proposed county ordinance could help to scale back the problem.

Roger Van Oordt, Las Vegas' animal control supervisor, said it makes sense for the cities to review their ordinances because the problem is a regional one caused by shared shelters and borders.

Even if other valley governments do not adopt the sterilization ordinance, Boteilho said local agencies should coordinate their laws to eliminate confusion and improve enforcement.

The need for regulatory uniformity is illustrated by the fact that an animal running loose at Pecos Road and Owens Avenue would be on the border of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County, he said.

"It used to be years ago that the city police department and sheriff would not chase bad guys across Sahara (Avenue)," Fierro said. "We have a similar situation now. We see a tremendous benefit in having uniform laws."

Brian Wargo covers suburban government for the Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-4011 or by e-mail at wargo@lasvegassun.com.