BILL LOOKS TO COLLAR PET OVERPOPULATION.Byline: Joseph Giordono Staff Writer Every dog and cat sold in a California pet store would have to be neutered neu·ter adj. 1. Grammar a. Neither masculine nor feminine in gender. b. Neither active nor passive; intransitive. Used of verbs. 2. a. or spayed before it could be sold under a proposed law announced Friday by a West Hollywood assemblyman. Democrat Paul Koretz, whose district includes parts of Sherman Oaks and Studio City, says the bill would alleviate the state's pet overpopulation overpopulation Situation in which the number of individuals of a given species exceeds the number that its environment can sustain. Possible consequences are environmental deterioration, impaired quality of life, and a population crash (sudden reduction in numbers caused by crisis, spare thousands of unwanted animals from euthanasia in animal shelters and potentially save hundreds of millions of dollars in animal care costs. But some pet store owners and animal lovers say the proposed law unfairly singles out the wrong group and adds extra expense to pet ownership. ``If they are truly looking to address the overpopulation in shelters, they are not targeting the right people at all,'' said Ira Lippman, owner of Peggy Wood's Pet Emporium in Burbank. ``I am not negative on the concept of spaying spaying: see castration. or neutering neu·ter adj. 1. Grammar a. Neither masculine nor feminine in gender. b. Neither active nor passive; intransitive. Used of verbs. 2. a. , but the vast majority of animals come from breeders who won't be affected by this law.'' Only 5 percent to 10 percent of dogs and cats in the area are purchased from pet stores, Lippman estimated, and requiring spaying or neutering would add cost and deprive customers of choice. Spaying or neutering can run anywhere from $40 to $100, Lippman said. That cost would most likely be passed on to the customer. According to Koretz, the proposed legislation - to be taken up by the Assembly Business and Professions Committee on Tuesday - does not single out specific groups, but is part of a piecemeal approach to keeping pet populations under control. ``It works if everyone addresses their part of the problem,'' Koretz said, pointing out that previous Assembly bills have required shelters to spay spay v. To surgically remove the ovaries of an animal. spay, spey to remove the ovaries. See also ovariohysterectomy. spay hook see spay hook. or neuter neu·ter adj. 1. Having undeveloped or imperfectly developed sexual organs. 2. Sexually undeveloped. n. A castrated animal. v. To castrate or spay. neuter 1. adopted animals. ``AB 1336 will not put pet stores out of business and will not be a burdensome mandate on them.'' While acknowledging that a small percentage of dogs and cats is purchased at a pet store, Koretz said almost half of all California pets are offspring of store-bought animals. The bill has the backing of the California Veterinary Medical Association, the Humane Society of the United States The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is a Washington, D.C-based animal welfare advocacy group. It is the largest animal welfare organization in the world, with nearly 10 million members and a 2006 budget of US$103 million. and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is any of a number of animal welfare organisations whose operations include protecting and providing shelter to animals in danger. , Koretz said. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Ira Lippman, owner of Peggy Wood's Pet Emporium in Burbank, with one of the store's puppies, believes a proposed bill would add costs to adopting animals through pet stores. Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer |
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