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StumbleHenderson adopts pet sterilization ordinance
Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010 | 9:07 a.m.
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In an effort to reduce the number of animals that are euthanized, the Henderson City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday night that will require all cats and dogs older than four months to be spayed or neutered.
The action brings Henderson in line with other municipalities in the Las Vegas Valley that have similar ordinances.
About 20 people spoke on the issue, about half of whom were in favor of the ordinance. The discussion was impassioned for some, as they described having to euthanize adult dogs and cats found in Henderson.
Gerri Schroder
“I think this is a very humane ordinance,” said Councilwoman Gerri Schroder. “If we have this ordinance we are not going to have as many euthanizations of healthy pets.”
Gary D. Weddle, Henderson’s animal control administrator, said the ordinance was meant to lower the population of unwanted animals, thus reducing the number of euthanizations that occur at Henderson’s shelter. Weddle said the ordinance ultimately would reduce the number of stray cats and dogs, which he said pose a safety threat to the animals and residents.
“It also promotes responsible pet ownership,” he said. “We end up euthanizing a lot of adults because of the puppies and kittens coming in.”
David Cappabianca, a Henderson resident who owns an 11-year-old cat, said the ordinance was unconstitutional.
“I believe no one has the right to tell me what to do with my property,” he said.
Casey Whittwer, a veterinarian, said he was against the ordinance because spaying and neutering animals when they are younger than six months increases the risk of surgical complications.
“You’re taking away people’s ability to make educated decisions on their own,” he said.
The ordinance has an “opt out” clause, which allows pet owners to obtain a letter from their veterinarian saying a pet is too young, too old or too sick to be spayed or neutered. If an official letter from a vet is presented, the owner can elect not to have the procedure done.
Debra March
Councilwoman Debra March said the key idea behind the ordinance was to promote “responsible pet ownership” by involving a veterinarian in decisions about a pet’s health. March said the opt-out clause gave her comfort that pet owners and doctors would have discretion.
Councilwoman Kathleen Boutin was the only council member to vote against the ordinance.
North Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Clark County and Mesquite have similar ordinances requiring cats and dogs to be spayed or neutered.
“We’re the only entity in Southern Nevada that doesn’t have this ordinance,” Henderson spokeswoman Kathy Blaha said. “This brings us in line with other municipalities.”
Blaha said the ordinance, which goes into effect 120 days after Tuesday's approval, would be enforced in conjunction with other violations, such as disturbance calls or stray pets.
“It’s kind of like the seatbelt law,” Blaha said. “Responsible pet owners already have their dogs spayed or neutered.”
Jutta Chambers
Henderson Police Chief Jutta Chambers said the department would enforce violations of the ordinance as misdemeanors. The maximum penalty would be a $1,000 fine or six months in jail, she said. However, the actual amount paid would be left to a judge.
“We do not have the resources or the inclination to go door to door…we are looking at this ordinance as a way to encourage people,” she said.
Chambers said she thought the maximum amount would rarely be applied as punishment.
“Very seldom, on the first offense, on a minor offense that is not violent in nature do we see significant fines,” Chambers said.
Dale Smock, animal control director in North Las Vegas, said his city passed a similar ordinance in January 2008. In the first year, he said, the city saw a decline in euthanizations and strays being brought to animal shelters. However, in the second year, North Las Vegas saw an increase, something Smock said he thinks might be a result of the down economy and abandoned pets in foreclosed homes.
Smock said the ordinance is still beneficial to North Las Vegas because the number should decrease during the next five years.
“We’re not doing this ordinance to, you know, generate revenue for the city,” he said. “The larger picture is to educate the public. We would like to see these animals saved.”
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Comment removed by moderator. Off topic.
AMEN it is about time that sterilization is required. There are to many animals living without homes. Now let's get rid of the puppy mills as well.
It is wrong when Big Brother tells others how to live and control their lives. It would be better to encourage or suggest, but not put a stupid law into effect taking people's right away and costing more resources and money to enforce. Pets are considered a member of the family. I wonder how these City Council people would feel if we passes an ordinance that made them get their tubes tide or their husbands a vasectomy? We could just say we are truing to controln the population. Government needs to stop continuing to take freedoms away and leave responsibilities to the individual.
piratepk, Don't be stupid...
Can we send the bill for taking care of all these unwanted animals to you?
If people would take care of their own animals and not abandon them to shelters that we all pay for, we wouldn't need laws require sterilization. Then again, if people would stop killing other people we wouldn't need laws againt murder either. As a member of society, you agree to live by the laws we all pass. If you don't like the law passed by the elected representatives then get someone else elected. If you want to live in a lawless society go somewhere else. You want to live in a community that doesn't have abandoned and dead animals all over and so your taxes pay for the shelter and the animal control. This law is just in place to try and save you some money. And, as a by product, we kill fewer animals.
Vegasstudent - no amount of debate or explanation of FACTS will ever phase knuckleheads like piratepk and David Cappabianca, as quoted in this article...they exhibit exactly the types of people that this law is aimed to target. Uneducated, ignorant and immature little children who cannot accept that their actions affect their community, and society as a whole.
No amount of governmental control will ever satisfy the current conditions in our society, that is for sure. Every single aspect of our lives... sooner or later... there will be a regulation rule law or suggestion for.
piratepak..I agree. They have no right to tell me what to do with my property. I am a responsible pet owner that will not comply with this law.
How can they enforce this? Does this mean if I am out with my little Maltese some officer is going to check her for a spay scar? Or (OMG) will I have to carry papers with me at all times?
6 months in jail.... really?
Just another law for the law abiders. These kinds of ordinances never effect the those unwilling to participate. Be honest, if we really had an issue with killing animals our super markets would look a whole lot different. The idea that a dog is some how better on the social scale than a chicken is liken to a person that is mentally impaired as being less when compared to a regular person. Only their abilities are less, but they are still a person and we treat them as so. Responsibility and love for one another is what laws try to force on us, but to some that will never apply. All we can do is to create separation between the law abider and the law breakers by the use of penalties.......if we catch them. When has a law been a deterrence to you or do you just do what is right?