Get a Spay/Neuter Law Passed
Pet overpopulation and overcrowded shelters are an ongoing problem in the United States with about half of the estimated 8 to 12 million animals that enter shelters each year ending up euthanized. Aside from destroying innocent life, it is a burden on taxpayers.
Mandatory spay/neuter laws can conceivably put an end to the pet overpopulation crisis in our country by curtailing breeding among irresponsible pet owners, puppy mills and backyard breeders.
In February 2008, a groundbreaking universal spay/neuter ordinance passed in Los Angeles thanks to broad public support. The L.A. ordinance will save thousands of pets (see link in Resources below). Various other cities, counties and states already have spay/neuter laws in place that have proven successful--and with the support of enough citizens it can become a nationwide trend--so that one day we will no longer be a society that views family pets as disposable. Here are steps to advocating for a spay/neuter law in your city, county or state.
Instructions
1. Check if there is a spay/neuter law in your city, county or state. If not, find out the proper official to contact to show your support. For instance, call your city council regarding city legislation, your county supervisor for a county law, and the assemblymember from your district about introducing a statewide bill.
2. Ask friends, relatives and coworkers to join you in showing support by contacting their respective officials. They should live within the jurisdiction of any official they contact.
3. Check online to see if there are any spay/neuter petitions in place for your city, county or state and if so, sign them. A good place to start would be Care2's Petition Site (see Resources below) or an animal organization website such as the Humane Society of the United States.
4. If you can't find a spay/neuter petition, start your own and gather signatures. Once you meet your goal you can present it to the proper political officials.
5. Attend any public hearings for spay/neuter legislation at city hall. If a statewide bill is going before the assembly, attend the first hearing at your state capital to show support. Your state's official website will have links to the city, county and state governments for hearing dates.
6. Purchase animal-friendly license plates if your state offers them. The proceeds from the plates go toward low cost spay/neuter programs. The more citizens that show support for spaying/neutering, the better the chances of getting legislation passed.
7. Check voting records and vote for officials who are pro animal. Those who tend to vote pro animal are likely to support spay/neuter laws.
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