When you work in rescue, it’s assumed you unquestioningly support mandatory desexing. And should you dare to point out the very genuine problems inherent in this legislation, you’ll likely find yourself up against one oldest and most revered of all rescue mantras; people are irresponsible and we must punish them”.
Ignoring those studies which have shown time and time again that the public is actually overwhelmingly compliant and that the majority of family pets are already desexed, proponents of mandatory desexing doggedly insist these laws are vital to bringing down the kill rates of shelters. Animals groups gleefully demonize those who don’t desex as ‘irresponsible’, despite the fact most undesexed animals are owned by the poor and disadvantaged, most of whom would desex their pets if they could a) afford it, and b) get their pets to a clinic to have it done.
Rather than look to fund free and accessible pet desexing (something that has proven results in bringing down surrenders and impoundments), they champion legislation that on its own does nothing to help animals. Mandatory desexing theoretically gives owners two choices; a procedure they can’t afford, or to give up their pet. While the third unspoken and often disastrous option for owners is to go ‘underground’; dooming that pet to a life without vet care, community involvement or training.
However, in the face of some of the most regressive legislation in the country, one local council is bucking the trend of developing bigger and more elaborate punishments, and is instead looking to implement programs that actually support disadvantaged owners in their community.
Recognising that the biggest hurdle to owner compliance is simply cost, Logan City Council is working with veterinarians to offer discount desexing and putting together community programs focussed on responsible pet ownership and rescue pet adoption.
Pretty much every single program and policy that No Kill advocates and opponents of mandatory desexing have always suggested instead of expensive, punitive legislation.
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Scheme aims to cut animal euthanasia
Logan battlers will be offered discounted veterinary services under a pilot program designed to cut soaring dog and cat euthanasia levels.
Shocking figures show almost three out of four cats impounded by Logan City Council last financial year were put down. About one in four impounded dogs were euthanased.
The council hopes to slash the figures with a new community clinic targeting pensioners and financially disadvantaged people. Council staff are in final negotiations with 21 veterinary clinics that want to become partners in offering cheaper microchipping and desexing procedures.
Animals and city standards committee chairman Graham Able said the non-profit clinic would likely open in September at the council’s Animal Management Centre on Queens Rd, Kingston.
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Combined Vets of Logan City co-director Joe Grose said the project would target people who ordinarily struggled to afford microchipping and desexing services.
Dr Grose said the vets would also focus on rehousing impounded animals.
“Nobody likes the idea of these animals having to die just because they are excess,” he said.
“We want pet owners of Logan to look seriously at the option of an animal from the pound rather than a puppy or a kitten.”
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Mandatory desexing sounds like a good idea, but these laws have been a complete and utter failure in every place they’ve been tried, doing nothing to save animals lives or even increase the number of desexed animals. It is programs such as those proposed by this council that should be at the forefront when battling pet homelessness.
I’ll say it again,
