Local animal control agencies will also be required to track the type of dogs and cats coming into the population and the source. This data will be used for future legislation to help address pet overpopulation, and help law enforcement crack down on backyard breeders who breed and train dogs for malicious purposes. Senator O Connell s proposal is just one of the ways that pet overpopulation is currently being addressed. Legislation enacted in 1998 requires all shelters and rescue groups in counties with animal populations over 100,000 to spay or neuter before adoption. For example, in the city of the Sacramento, the SPCA is offering free neutering services to pet owners with financial hardships, so that the cost of this procedure does not deter people from being responsible pet owners.
Adoption is another vital way to help with pet overpopulation.
SPCAs encourage persons interested in having a pet to consider adopting an animal that needs a home, that might otherwise be destroyed, rather than buying one from a breeder or a pet store. Considering many animals tremendous ability to produce offspring one female dog and her offspring in six years can produce 67,000 puppies, one female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens in seven years, and there is no limit to the number of offspring a male dog or cat can produce, SB 236 is a step in the right direction towards tackling pet overpopulation and animal abandonment. For More Information For information about Senate Bill 236, visit Legislative Information . The chip helps identify animals by acting as a miniature radio transponder with a unique code. Features This section will highlight events, legislation and other news stories as they arise around the state.