We are requesting that Mayor Will Wynn and the Austin City Council consider a spay and neuter ordinance for both cats and dogs to prevent the production of unwanted animals in Austin, TX.
We, the undersigned, are requesting that Mayor Will Winn and the Austin City Council consider a spay and neuter ordinance for both cats and dogs to prevent the production of unwanted animals.
Everyone likes to think of Austin as a trailblazing city, and in many ways it is. We are falling behind, however, when it comes to the way we treat the dogs and cats living in our city. Instead of valued pets, a member of the family almost, we allow thousands of pets to be killed every year. They have become disposable, thrown out as thousands of pounds of trash. You can choose to turn a blind eye, contribute to the problem, or you can do something about it.
In 2004 and 2005 the Animal Advisory Commission presented the City Council with proposals for a compulsory spay/neuter ordinance, both of which failed. The failure was due in part to a highly organized effort by San Antonio residents who believe breeding of companion animals is a sport, as well as their right, even though the Austin ordinance would have no effect on what they do in their own city.
Houston's Shelter director has come out in favor of a spay/neuter ordinance for Harris County, San Antonio's city council is now discussing a spay/neuter ordinance and Austin city council members have asked for a copy of the roughly 2400 paper signatures already collected supporting a spay/neuter ordinance for Austin.
We need to let the mayor and the city council know that the residents of Austin are not in favor of 12,000-15,000 animals a year being killed. The only way to prevent over-population of companion animals is to stop the breeding cycle, and for those who do not show their animals to spay or neuter them. Most breeders who have show standard animals are also in favor of an ordinance because they recognize the problems caused by uneducated, uncontrolled breeding.
An ordinance restricting breeding to licensed permit holders would eventually lead to a decline in the number of animals killed, as well as weeding out puppy mills, "sport", and backyard breeders thereby raising the quality of animals produced by responsible breeders.
We sincerely thank you for taking the time to consider our request and urge you to join us in support of a spay/neuter ordinance for the city of Austin.
