Data and alternatives to mandatory spay and neuter ordinances or laws regarding dogs.

1. Save Our Dogs
Mandatory Spay / Neuter
It’s Not the Answer

2. “The ASPCA is not aware of any
credible evidence demonstrating a statistically
significant enhancement in the reduction of shelter
intake or euthanasia as a result of the
implementation of a mandatory spay/neuter law.”
The ASPCA View

3. The HSUS View
owned pets and penalizing those who do not comply
can put low-income pet owners between a rock and a
hard place, resulting in unnecessary relinquishment
and missed opportunities for meaningful community
education and engagement.”
“Requiring the sterilization of

4. The American Kennel Club View
found they result in significant cost increases and
many other unintended consequences for
responsible dog owners, local shelters, and the
community at large – without addressing the real
underlying issue of irresponsible dog ownership.”
“Mandatory spay/neuter laws have proven
to be ineffective. Numerous studies have

5. Other Groups Opposed to MSN
“The AVMA does not support
regulations or legislation
mandating spay/neuter of
privately owned, non-shelter
dogs and cats.”
American Veterinary Medical Association
“…the decision to spay
or neuter a pet must be
made on a case by
case basis, and this
The American College of Theriogenologists
Society for Theriogenology
decision should be made between the pet’s owner and its
veterinarian…”“…experience has proven that
legislation is far from a cure al-all. In
fact, it has the opposite effect.
Communities that have passed such
laws are not only far from No Kill, many are moving in the
opposite direction.”
No Kill Advocacy Center
“Best Friends does not support mandatory spay-
neuter legislation as a method of pet population
control.”
National Animal Interest Alliance
“NAIA opposes mandatory
sterilization and other
coercive "spay or pay"
licensing schemes because these approaches have little
effect on reducing shelter intake and euthanasia rates while
producing serious unintended consequences.”

6. What’s Wrong With MSN
 MSN laws have not been effective.
 Neutering affects an animal’s health. It makes the
government a veterinarian.
 It most affects families who can least afford to comply.
 It encourages additional non-compliance with animal
control licensing laws. It raises shelter operating costs.
 It doesn’t address the issue of responsible ownership.
 Dog ownership becomes a luxury available only to the
rich.

7.  Multiple studies have demonstrated the negative health effects of early
neutering.1
 Spay or neutering increases the risks of urinary incontinence, hip dysplasia,
torn cruciate ligaments, and hypothyroidism. 2
 Neutering male dogs at any age increases the risk of getting cardiac
hemangiosarcoma , hypothyroidism, obesity, adverse reactions to
vaccinations.3
 If done before 1 year of age, significantly increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer);
this is a common cancer in medium/large and larger breeds with a poor prognosis.
 Contrary to popular belief, there’s little evidence that castration reduces
aggressive behavior in male dogs, and may exacerbate other behavioral
problems. The study found “spayed female dogs tend to be more
aggressive.”4
Health Concerns

8.  Cost of spaying or neutering a dog is a leading
reason for low income families to surrender
their pet.
 The Downtown Dog Rescue intervention program at
the South Los Angeles shelter found “the primary
driver of a family feeling the need to surrender their
pet to the shelter is poverty.”5
Impact on Families
 Long Beach Animal Care Services offers subsidies of $30 vouchers BUT
 Only a limited number are available each month and only on one day.
 You must get in line at the shelter on the 1st Thursday and be there by 10 a.m.
 Accessible transportation is limited. Public transit does not allow
companion animals.
 30% of owners with intact pets said cost was the reason, according to a 2014 PetSmart
Charities survey. 6
COST
Spay Neuter Project clinics
is $110-$155
Private veterinarian as
high as $300 for a larger
breed female

9.  A leading cause of shelter surrender is behavior.
 Behavioral issues include soiling, chewing, high activity
incompatible with owner lifestyle, destructive behavior,
digging.7
 11% of the dogs in the Downtown Dog Rescue pilot program had
a behavioral issue.
 Many owners lack basic animal knowledge
 A majority of surrendering owners believe or don’t know if a
female dog should have a litter before being spayed.
 The California Sheltering Report recommends shelters
conduct intake assessment to determine resource needs.
Responsible Ownership

10.  Average license compliance rates in California jurisdictions without
MSN= ~ 33%
 Average license compliance rates in California jurisdictions with a
MSN ordinance = ~14%
MSN Decreases Compliance
 Santa Cruz County – 13% [MSN
since 1995]
 City of Los Angeles – 13% [MSN
since 2000, made stricter in 2008]
 Los Angeles County – 20% [MSN
since 2006]
 Sacramento County – 14% [MSN
on 2nd impoundment since 1995]

11. MSN Raises Shelter Costs
 Lee County, Florida adopted an MSN ordinance in
February 2014. Shelter costs increased $722,944.
 Dallas, Texas implemented MSN in 2008. Animal control
costs increased 22%.
 Santa Cruz County
adopted MSN in 1995.
Animal control costs
up 25% in five years.
 BUT little change in
euthanasia rates.

12. MSN Isn’t So Effective
 In California, as elsewhere in the nation, there’s
no convincing evidence that MSN laws are
effective.
 Shelter admits and euthanasia rates have been
declining in the absence of MSN laws.
 Long Beach’s coercive breeding law is a failure.
 Costs associated with enforcing MSN result have
increased budgets in every municipality.

13. MSN Isn’t Effective In LA County
MSN law adopted in 2006.
Euthanasia rates rise

14. MSN Isn’t Effective In LA City
MSN laws toughened in 2008.
Euthanasia rates rise.

15. MSN Isn’t Effective In Santa Cruz
MSN law implemented in 1995.
Euthanasia rates essentially flat.

16. MSN Isn’t Needed In Long Beach
Long Beach euthanasia
rates have been steadily
declining without an MSN
law..
Note: Long
Beach data
unavailable
after 2009.

17. Alternatives to MSN
1. Reduce intake
 Appointments for owner surrenders
 Surrender assessments
 Referrals to local resources
2. Improve recovery and adoptions
 Extend or reschedule shelter hours to accommodate the public
 Adopt Calgary’s Pet Drive Home program
 Improve collaboration with rescue groups. Legal non-profit status should not
be a pre-requisite.
 Improve signalment to include location of stay impoundments and include type
/ temperament information.
Current LB shelter hours
Closed Monday and Tuesday
Open:
Wednesday - Friday 10:00 - 5:30 PM
Weekday Adoptions until 5:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday 10:00 - 4:00 PM

18. Alternatives to MSN
3. Expand the city’s spay and neuter program.
 Change the way the current voucher program works to make it accessible to
low-income, working families. Hours should be convenient.
 Redirect funds to provide free and very low-cost spay and neuter.
 Add a mobile spay / neuter service for owners without transportation.
4. Adopt a pro-active outreach
 Make licensing convenient and incentivize participation.
 San Jose has a pilot program with Petco.
 Calgary has a “Pet Rewards” program offering discounts at local merchants.
 Improve the LB animal services website to make licensing information prominent.
 Provide on and off-site counseling and education
 The ASPCA recommends identifying “the particular segments of the population that are contributing
disproportionately to shelter intake and euthanasia, and produce programs targeted to those
populations.”8
 Provide behavioral training or training education services.

19. 5. Implement a ‘marketing’ mentality.
 “Sell” shelter services on the website.
 Provide shelter health clearances and
temperament evaluations.
 Cooperate with rescue to list their
availables or at least links and contacts.
 Work with all rescue groups regardless of
IRS status. Eliminate business license
requirement for rescue groups.
Alternatives to MSN

20. Long Beach Can Be A Leader
 Community outreach
 Education and assessments
 Incentives for canine good
citizens, training classes,
etc.
Long Beach can become a model for the U.S. as Calgary is for Canada
and all of North America. The largest city in the nation to:
 Become a No-Kill city.
 High licensing compliance.
 Designation as the largest AKC Dog Friendly City
 Innovative programming
 Customer service
 Financial support for
voluntary spay / neuter

21. Footnotes
1. Sanborn, Laura J., M.S., 2007, “Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in
Dogs,”
2. Slauterbeck JR, Pankratz K, Xu TK, Bozeman SC, Hardy, DM. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related
Research, 2004;429:301-305
3. Root Kustritz , Margaret V., DVM, PHD, DACT, “Determining the optimal age for gonadectomy of dogs
and cats,” J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2007 Dec 231(11):1665-1675
4. Duffy, Deborah L., Ph.D., and Serpell, James A., Ph.D., Center for the Interaction of Animals and
Society, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, “Non-reproductive Effects of
Spaying and Neutering on Behavior in Dogs,” Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on
Non-Surgical Contraceptive Methods for Pet Population Control
5. California Sheltering Report, 2014, “Charting a Path Forward: Reaching California’s policy to save all
adoptable and treatable animals,” multiple stakeholders including SPCA, animal control directors ,
and rescue groups.
6. PetSmart Charities, 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report, accessed at http://goo.gl/qYFVbc
7. New, John C., et. al., “Characteristics of Shelter-Relinquished Animals and Their Owners,” Journal Of
Applied Animal Welfare Science, 3(3), 179–201
8. 7. ASPCA, “Position Statement on Mandatory Spay/Neuter Laws.”