Patti's story points out so well the problems with this type of law. Requiring alteration to get a license pressures people into early spay/neuter, which is a questionable practice in all breeds but riskier with the toys. There are a myriad of health reasons not to neuter male dogs ever, and people should be allowed to weigh the pros and cons before making these decisions. Frankly, if I were to live in a city with mandatory spay/neuter or breeding permits I would go from a normally law abiding citizen (and a lawyer) to being a scofflaw. I would not comply with licensing requirements and would run the risk of having one of my dogs get loose (has never happened) and getting caught and having to pay the resultant fines. I would stay underground for as long as possible, and if caught I'd move to another municipality that has more respect for its citizen's property rights and whose representatives prefer to think through issues of animal welfare and avoid the pressure of animal rights advocates.
Can you tell this is one of my pet peeves?
These laws have been "propagandized" from both sides- animal right activists and those opposed as well. My opinion is that pet owners and breeders alike need to examine the potential benefits and harms for themselves. |