On Monday, July 14, 2014, the CFODC
joined in the effort to defeat another MSN (Mandatory Spay Neuter)
law – this time, in Pasadena. There were many speakers; about 50%
in support of the ordinance and 50% opposed.
Many rational and thoughtful comments
were made against a mandatory spay-neuter law. The pro-MSN group were
spouting from inaccurate and outdated statistics still being promoted
by HSUS and PETA. There was a group of young people led by PETA –
with no logical arguments, just mindless support.
The Pasadena Humane Society was charged
at the last hearing to do a canvass of the area and a report back.
They are still canvassing – and their report was based on estimates
rather than real numbers. The head of the PHS spouted old research as
if he was an expert – he showed he is not. They received about 30
letters opposed, no letters in support were listed except one from
PHS based on an erroneous report from the Director of Public Works.
The report included such falsehoods as:
"overpopulation" of pets in Pasadena, when their adoption
rate is 96% for dogs and 98% for cats, based on the PHS own statistics from their latest annual report. (link below)
They also claim this measure would help reduce strays and dog bites
when of course there is no evidence to support such an assertion. A
further claim was that it is healthy to sterilize pets, especially at
a young age...FALSE and the exact OPPOSITE of reality. They further
claim that the AVMA supports spay/neuter laws which is PATENTLY
FALSE....AVMA, ASPCA, AKC, Best Friends, ACT, Alley Cat Allies and
many other groups oppose MSN laws because they DON'T WORK.
Naturally, when you are spouting out
falsehoods you have to include the urban legend about how one cat
magically blossoms into 73,000 cats in seven years time, and they did
include that silly assertion in their report. It's an impossibility
and a lie.
Councilman Gordo made several
amendments to the bill – to address the young age, the price or
charge differential and if it affected low-income, a sunset clause,
to include TNR (Trap Neuter and Release of feral cats), and also to
use an educational program in schools . Councilmen Kennedy and
Tornek, along with Vice Mayor Robinson understood and voted in
opposition. Councilman Gordo had good questions and asked for a new
draft of the ordinance in 60 days. There were speakers from Pasanita
Obedience Club, the Kennel Club of Pasadena, the Calif Responsible
Pet Owners Coalition, and the California Federation of Dog Clubs.
Interestingly, PHS' numbers could be
considered NO KILL. They glossed over the fact that many of their
animal deaths are actually animals at the end of their lives and
their compassionate owners asked for them to be PTS ("put to
sleep"). They continually mentioned their freezers are full of
dead animals – with only 13 dogs (by their numbers) euthanized due
to lack of space!!! And the bigger problem appears to be feral cats.
Naturally this law as presented would do nothing to reduce the
numbers of feral cats.
You can see the report from the public
works director here:
http://ww2.cityofpasadena.net/councilagendas/2014%20Agendas/Jul_14_14/AR%2018.pdf
And the Pasadena Humane Society report
which claims such high adoption rates here:
http://annualreport.pasadenahumane.org/
