After months of deliberation and several lengthy public comment periods, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 3-1-1 at its Dec. 1 meeting to approve an ordinance that will require pet owners living in unincorporated parts of the county to spay and neuter their dogs and cats. The ordinance is expected to take effect in early 2010.
Fifth District Supervisor Joe Centeno dissented on the ordinance, which also states owners aren’t required to have their pet spayed or neutered if they discuss their objectives for owning a pet with a licensed veterinarian. Such owners would also be required to obtain a veterinary certificate to purchase a $10 “unaltered animal license.” Money spent on the licenses will be deposited into the County Animal Services Spay/Neuter Agency Fund to be used to subsidize spaying and neutering stray animals.
Certain pet owners, however, aren’t eligible for the unaltered animal license, according to the ordinance. These include owners whose pets have been impounded three or more times within a year, pet owners who have been convicted of crimes against animals and/or domestic violence, and owners who have been found guilty of an infraction after their dog has bitten or attacked a person or other animal.
According to county documents, a number of local animal welfare groups have committed to work with Animal Services on expanding the availability of subsidized, low-cost spay and neuter services.
The ordinance also includes a number of requirements for the transfer (think sale, adoption, or the like) of dogs and cats, and states that the director of Animal Services will be responsible for enforcing the ordinance.
Before voting, Centeno explained his decision not to support the ordinance.
“We [the government] seem to always want to pass legislation to do detriment to law-abiding people,” Centeno said.
He went on to say that he didn’t think it was fair there wasn’t a clause in the ordinance requiring surcharges for irresponsible pet owners who don’t get their pets spayed or neutered.
“And I don’t know why, because those are the people I would go after tooth and nail,” he said.
Fourth District Supervisor Joni Gray said she chose to abstain from voting because she agrees with both sides of the argument—that animals should be fixed for health reasons and that the ordinance places an unfair burden on law-abiding residents.
“I wanted to vote yes and no, but you won’t let me,” Gray told county staff.
Funding for the county’s Responsible Pet Ownership Program will be provided through fiscal year 2010-2011 with one-time funding through California Senate Bill 90. Following years will be funded through revenue from increased licensing fees.
For more information about the spay/neuter ordinance, visit the county’s website, countyofsb.org, or the county Animal Services website, sbcphd.org/as/default.html.
This article appears in Dec 3-10, 2009.