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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 22, 2016 06:42 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Patrick M. Browne |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Dog Law -- spaying/neutering condition of shelter release |
| In the near future I will be re-introducing legislation amending the Dog Law to require that all dogs or cats adopted from an animal shelter be spayed/neutered by a veterinarian prior to release from the shelter. Animal shelters, both public and private, are faced with an incredible burden of what to do with the overpopulation of dogs and cats that they cannot find homes for. Approximately 3.7 million animals are euthanized at shelters each year, due to the sheer fact that there are not enough willing adopters. Under current law, every dog or cat that is adopted from an animal shelter must be spayed or neutered. The individual adopting the animal has the option of having the shelter perform the spaying/neutering or sign a contract stating they will have the spaying/neutering done by a private veterinarian. Although it is a summary offense for failure to sterilize the animal, it is impossible to enforce this requirement. This legislation is a good first step in eliminating the overpopulation of cats and dogs in the Commonwealth and putting an end to their unnecessary euthanasia. |
Introduced as SB1390