CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR

Those who support mandatory spay/neuter as a way to reduce the shelter population, although noble in cause, are missing the fact that there are no connections between dogs in the shelters and dogs being born. It is obvious that Judie Mancuso and supporters of mandatory spay/neuter have the agenda of deterring people from breeding their pets. In their hearts, they believe that if there were no domestic animals born in the state of California, there would be no animals in our shelters and therefore, no euthanasia.

However, reducing the supply of California bred animals is not going to reduce the demand for California pets.

Low volume or hobbyist breeders take the time to carefully consider each breeding and evaluate each family's ability to care for and sustain a life long relationship with a pet. There even exists some commercial breeders who take great care to do the same sort of sifting and education of potential new homes. If we deter good quality breeders from producing good quality pets, where will Californians get their pets?

1. Internet sales where they have no opportunity to visit and view the parents or develop a relationship with the "breeder."

2. Puppy brokers where large volumes of puppies are imported from out of state and sold for profit by "breeders" who are not even affected by mandatory spay/neuter ordinances because they do not own any adult or intact dogs. All of their business is done through imports.

3. Substandard commercial "breeders" who do not take the time or care to screen owners or work through pedigrees and genetics of breeding animals.

4. Backyard "breeders" who have the litter because they happen to have two dogs and since they are "under the radar" and do not advertise in the newspapers or show or work their dogs, are rarely visible as puppy sellers.

5. The shelter. And while I support adoptions from shelters, I also know that the shelters do not have the supply of puppies and kittens that Californians desire or demand. And so, families will go to the other options above which will only put more animals into the shelters that are not adoptable.

The focus for reducing euthanasia in California needs to be on reviewing the issues BEFORE developing a solution. My grandmother called it "throwing the baby out with the bath water."

There are models of successful Animal Services programs where communities have built bridges rather than burning them and where it is not about "control." Isn't it time that we look beyond the extremes and develop a plan of action that does not toss out the good with the bad?