No Money For New Spay Neuter Ordinance

CBS 2
August 19, 2008

LOS ANGELES The Los Angeles Department of Animal Services is unprepared to promote and enforce a new city law that requires most dogs and cats to be spayed or neutered, according to an audit released today.

Ed Boks, the general manager of Animal Services, said he agrees with the audit conducted by City Controller Laura Chick and cited a lack of funds as part of the problem.

The ordinance, which was signed in February and will go into effect on Oct. 1, comes at a time when Animal Services cannot afford to open a newly constructed $14 million shelter in the San Fernando Valley and may have to lay off 27 animal care technicians, Boks said. "It could not have come at a worse time," he said. "The department supports the ordinance that the city passed, but it is clear that it amounts to an unfunded mandate. So the department -- as we are one to do in many situations -- we'll do the best that we can."

Private animal organizations are working with the department to put out public service announcements, fliers and posters. "The department was provided no funding to enforce this ordinance or to advise the community about this ordinance, so everything is being provided pro-bono," Boks said.

The new city law requires most dogs and cats to be spayed or neutered by the time they are four months old. Owners who do not comply with the law will receive information on subsidized sterilization services. If their pets are not fixed within 60 days, owners could face a $100 fine or eight hours of community service. A third offense could result in a $500 fine or 40 hours of community service.

The ordinance exempts animals that have competed in shows or sporting competitions; dogs in the process of earning agility, carting, herding, protection, rally, hunting, working or other titles; guide, signal or service dogs; canines that are used by law enforcement agencies; and animals for which there are valid breeding permits.

The city controller said funding for outreach efforts must be made a priority. "If you don't put something behind (the ordinance), then it's a feel- good gesture, and we don't want to be a city that does empty feel-good gestures," Chick said. "I always think that legislators should research, not only the outcomes and impacts ... but should always research and ask questions about enforcement," she said. "Otherwise we, government, run the danger of enacting legislation that is not going to be enforced, which to me is the clearest of messages to our citizenry and our public -- go ahead and be a scofflaw, nothing's going to happen."

A fiscal audit released in May found the Animal Services Department had lost millions of dollars in revenue by failing to license and renew the licenses of hundreds of thousands of dogs.