History has shown that mandatory spay/neuter laws
have been legislative failures where enacted.

Los Angeles City, California - enforcement costs rose 269%, from $6.7 million to $18 million; and compliance to mandatory dog licensing declined.

San Mateo County California (in unincorporated areas of the county which is where the ordinance is in effect) -- dog euthanasia rates increased by 126%, dog licenses declined by 35%.

Montgomery County, Maryland rescinded its breeding licensing ordinance after the Office of Legislative Oversight pronounced it a failure in the stated objective of increasing spay/neuter procedures and blamed it as a direct cause of a 50% drop in licensing compliance.

"At the same time, the low number of breeder permits issued, the lack of an increase in spay/neuter procedures, and the significant drop in the number of pet licenses, suggest that the legislative strategy of higher fees and stiffer penalties for unaltered licenses did not encourage owners to alter their pets. In fact, the significantly higher fees for unaltered licenses appear to have created a disincentive for owners to license their pets." (From the Office of Legislative Oversight MD Report Evaluation of Bill 54-91 Revisions to the County's Animal Control Law 6/24/97)

Shelter euthanasia in Montgomery County was already dropping prior to passage of their mandatory spay/neuter law. The Montgomery County Humane Society said euthanasia rates had dropped every year due to their successful adoption program. After the legislation was passed, their license compliance rate dropped from 30% to 14% and the number of licensed pets decreased from 49,000 to 23,000. The Office of Legislative Oversight recommended in their 1997 report that the county eliminate the new breeder permit system and return to their former license fee structure.

Fort Worth, TX also ended its spay/neuter differential program for similar reasons and because there was a reduction in rabies vaccinations which lead to an increase in rabies in the city.

Pinellas County FL -- Breeder licensing enacted in 1992 -- by 1998, the budget increased 75% with revenue increasing only 13%. Through aggressive and expensive animal control officer enforcement to "catch" breeders, the county believes breeders have been reduced by 50%, yet the shelter impoundment and euthanasia figures continue to rise dramatically.

Kings County, Washington was the second locale to implement the mandatory spay/neuter legislation failure. 1980-1990 the euthanasia rate declined by 85% without restrictive legislation. Increasing adoption was the key to decreasing euthanasia. Instead of allowing a good thing to continue, animal rights activists pushed for restrictive breeding ordinances and the result was:

Animal control expenses increased 56.8% (revenue only 43.2%)

Pre-ordinance 1990 animal control costs -- $1,662,700

Post-ordinance animal control costs were - $3,087,350

Taxpayers paid $1,896, 722 over and above the revenue generated by licensing. This came out of the general fund, hurting other animal community funded programs.

Net cost over the life of the ordinance -- $8,397,096

Camden County, NJ -- mandatory spay/neuter ordinance hasn't stopped it from being called "consistently one of the leading, if not the leading killers of animals in the state of New Jersey" (ref: PAWS NJ)

Aurora, CO -- euthanasia and shelter intake rates increased. Licensing compliance dropped dramatically, compliance costs have increased 75% with revenue increasing only 13%.

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