Dr. Heller has impressive credentials, a history of activism, and she organized both adults and children into a cohesive, yellow-ribbon bedecked band of supporters. But what she never did was present any evidence that MSN works. Nor did the County Public Health Department. And that is because all the statistics go the other way.
If there is evidence of success for MSN why was it not presented? Why has the State Legislature rejected it for the last 3 years? Why has the California Department of Finance reported that it will have a negative financial effect of local government? Why have the American Veterinary Medical Association and ASPCA issued written position papers opposing the MSN of owned dogs? Why did HSUS not weigh in?
There were no shelter experts on the Task Force. The three people that are nationally recognized as having the most expertise are Richard Avanzino, Nathan Winograd and Bill Bruce. Avanzino and Winograd live in California; it would have been easy to get their testimony. Bill Bruce attended a task force meeting but was not allowed to make a presentation the the meeting. Is this the way an organization seeks real solutions, by not listening to the people who have run successful programs?
The Santa Barbara MSN ordinance was based on fear, sympathy and perhaps political contributions (some task force members bragged they had made large contributions and the Supervisors would vote yes). One could never base a YES vote on facts because there are none.
Instead of embracing programs that have worked, the County chose to put in place a model that has never fared as well as licensing, education and incentive programs. The winners are the veterinarians because Dr. Ron Faoro, DVM and Task Force Chair made sure that only they can issue exemptions. And if they decline to give an exemption, they will be right there to sell the S/N surgery. The losers will be the additional owned animals that will die, the additional owned animals that will be surrendered and the taxpayers that will pick up the extra costs.
Spay-neuter does work
Thank you for your extended coverage of the recent Board of Supervisors hearings and vote on a new spay/neuter ordinance for dogs and cats. The ordinance will require that pet owners get a certificate from their veterinarian if they want to keep their pet intact. Its goal is to motivate people to spay or neuter their pets by getting them to think a little about the consequences of not doing so: namely, overcrowding and unnecessary deaths in our county’s shelters. Those who truly wish to keep their pets intact may do so simply by obtaining the certificate as part of their normal rabies vaccination/licensing process.
The good news is that the mere passage of the ordinance is already having its intended effect. The day after the vote, because of coverage by media outlets like the Journal, one of our local rescue groups got a call from the owner of two kittens: she’d read about the new law and was looking for information about how to get her kittens fixed. Those are two cats that will not be adding to the overabundance of excess kittens we have been seeing in the past few years!
It’s also important to let your readers know that if they want to fix their pet but fear that they can’t afford to do so, they are lucky to live in this county. Our three humane societies -- Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley, and Santa Maria Valley -- all have low cost clinics, and in some cases fee waivers for those in need. Private cat rescue organizations such as Catalyst for Cats and VIVA (Volunteers for Intervalley Animals) will cover all costs for feral cats and in some cases, tame ones also. And CARE 4 PAWS is offering free spaying or neutering of any owned pet. For more information, readers should contact the organizations listed. CARE 4 PAWS, which currently runs its free clinics with the generous support of Buellton Veterinary Clinic, can be reached at (805) 968-2273.
Lee E Heller, Ph.D., J.D., Summerland
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