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Should you need a license to own an unaltered dog?


maggiesmommy
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38 members have voted

  1. 1. Should you need a license to own an unspayed or unneutered dog?

    • Yes, licenses should be required to own unaltered animals
      7
    • No, you shouldn't need a license to have an unaltered animal
      31


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if it is considered a social crime to own multiple dogs and to allow them to breed irresponsibly or behave in a way that causes a nuisance the general public will police itself.

I think this is the key, when it becomes frowned upon to think its an educational experience for your kids to experience a litter, or my really cute mutt is so perfect that I want puppies, or any of the myriad of reasons that people use to to have breed their dogs, you start to see a reduction in unwanted dogs.

 

The few times I have been in the low cost spay/neuter clinic with a rescue and watched the stream of pit bull bitches coming in so many of who have had a litter.... Just amazed me.

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As others have said, it's a cultural thing. I've lived in areas where most dogs were PTS in the shelters. You can't regulate people's values, and therefore, you can't regulate how they treat dogs. Do laws stop people from buying drugs? Using escort services? The only way to really make a change is pour money into education and social programs. Start young teaching kids values and culture will slowly change for the better.

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bcnewe said it - we can't enforce the laws we have. The issue is not more laws. Unfortunately, many if not most legislators will pass a 'feel-good' bill at the drop of a hat. When the time comes to pass financial backing laws that support the laws already on the books, the lobbyists for special interest groups - all of them - get in there and block the legislation that would give the laws any teeth.

 

Politicians love being able to say,, "I voted for this wonderful law that says puppies and kittens must all be given adequate food and shelter". Makes them look good to their demographic. Politicians generally don't like saying, "I voted to spend money". Makes them look bad. Or so they think.

 

So we get more laws passed and very little ever changes.

 

Ruth and Agent Gibbs

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I agree with this:

 

I would like to see the majority of non breeding dogs neutered but believe strongly in personal freedom as long as no one else is harmed. (Having 6 dogs shouldn't be legislated against, having 6 dogs that run riot and bark constantly day and night should.)

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Oko, I personally don't think people should own unaltered animals unless they intend to breed them, because most unaltered animals will at some point produce pups, whether you plan on breeding them or not.

 

So basically, what you are saying is despite 10+ years of controlling our dogs ability to mate you don't think we're capable of preventing unplanned litters.

 

Your attitude is exactly the same as the shelter worker that lectured me for having an intact female while at a rabies clinic, saying I was contributing to the pet overpopulation problem. When in fact that particular female has never been allowed to breed and we know where all of our pups are from our females we have bred. This attitude comes from dealing with the general population and this attitude is even projected towards those who do control their dogs; thereby alienating responsible dog owners.

 

In MD ALL dogs are to be liscensed and there is a discount for altered dogs.

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I grew up with a couple of unaltered bitches, and we have owned several over the years, and never a pregnancy due to careful management. We have had unaltered males and they did sire pups as the neighbors did not manage their in-heat bitch and we did not successfully confine our dogs (also did not know the bitch was in heat so didn't take extra precautions). Our dogs now are all neutered - our choice and our convenience. We choose to not have to deal with heats.

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Dogs in Kansas City are supposed to be licensed. You have to have proof of rabies vaccination. I think the fee is $10 per dog unless you don't pay on time. Late fees are horrendous.

 

I saw the figures on licensing no too long ago. Only about 3% of cats are licensed. (Cats and ferrets are also supposed to be licensed). Only about 17% of dogs are licensed.

 

My dogs are licensed for only one reason really. If something goes wrong - if my dogs would bite someone or attack another dog or cat - I don't want trouble from the city. The fines are horrible if it's an unlicensed dog. I don't think my dogs would ever bite anyone but you just never know for sure.

 

Well, and both of my older dogs have tags on their collars. The license also is one way to locate a lost dog. People who find the dog only have to call the number on the tag and give the pet's license number and all the owner info is on the city computer. If the city picks up a licensed dog they give you one freebie if the dog would get picked up by AC.

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I live in Tennessee and there are no licenses here for any dogs... Is that something that Northern states do?

 

I see other folks have already responded to this point, but I wanted to add that I live in southern Kentucky (less then 25 miles from TN), and my city requires dog licenses, as well. As others have noted, the cost of the license is discounted for altered dogs. I also believe our situation is like those others mentioned: most people with unaltered dogs are not bothering to get licenses, either.

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I found out that some cities in Tennessee do require dog licenses (Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, among others, and they do give discounts for altered pets). I've just never encountered them because I've never lived within the city limits of any major city. So that clarifies a lot.

I've gotta admit that you guys actually changed my mind. I was of the mindset that across the board spaying and neutering was a reasonable requirement for anyone who wasn't a breeder, but hearing from all of you and seeing that many of you have owned unaltered dogs that haven't produced pups has made a big difference, and I also understand the reasoning that the policy would be unenforceable and counterproductive.

So... You changed someone's mind on the internet. Not too common. But thank you guys all for the well-reasoned discourse.

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In very rural western NYS, where we lived previously to here, all dogs were to be licensed. The fee for intact was double the fee for neutered. Down here in our rural county in WV, all dogs are to be licensed, with one fee for either intact or neutered. I'd guess a lot of people in the even more rural areas don't bother with licensing at all even though it's the law but I could be wrong.

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In the small city I live in, there is a 3 dog, 3 cat per household limit. It costs $5 per year to license an altered dog/cat and $35 for unaltered animals. That is enough for some law abiding folks to alter their dog. That extra $30 a year adds up over time. (Plus the other reasons why spaying and neutering is beneficial...no heat cycles or escaping/wandering males.)

 

The money from licensing goes towards animal control costs. Very few people actually license cats and dog licensing is only enforced if there is a problem. My little city with population just over 3000 does not have a dedicated animal control officer(s) so unless there is a complaint or they happen upon a stray dog while out doing maintenance, there is no enforcement. That's just the way I like it.

 

I think people should have right to choose whether and when to spay or neuter, regardless of whether or not they plan on breeding. We've always spayed/neutered by 6 months of age. With my past 4 dogs, I've dealt with osteosarcoma, hip displaysia, spay incontinence, and a torn CCL. While there are other factors to consider, there is evidence to suggest that all of these things are more common in dogs altered at a young age. It is my preference to have altered dogs, but my next dog will not be altered until 12-24 months of age.

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having a hard time getting my mind around someone suggesting legislation which would require one's home to be inspected. really?

 

dave

When I lived in a smallish town in NJ, I was shocked to find a town employee knocking on my door one day soon after moving in. They were there to find out how many dogs I had (only 1 at the time) as they were checking that the # of dogs in residence matched the list from the county which detailed the dog licenses. This visit happened every other year. They never asked to come in the house for an inspection.

 

Jovi

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Many people I know do not license their dogs but if they were to get lost and picked up by AC, you can't get them back until you show proof of rabies and pay for the license. Not that I ever expect to lose my dog, but I would be pissed if my dog had to sit in AC's kennel for a couple of days instead of being instantly released to me because I didn't want to pay the $5 fee. Plus it is one more ID tag my dog wears.

 

I live in a small town and it is $5 for an altered dog and I think $15 for an unaltered. The fees barely cover the cost of the 'program'. It is used to be run by the state but it was costing the state money so now individual towns run it and set their prices. I had heard that a town over from me was having their ACO go door to door taking count of the dogs in town. I have never heard of that happening in my town though.

 

I would never support making it mandatory to spay/neuter dogs. No one should be forced to have a surgery performed on their dog. Like someone else said, you cannot punish someone into having morals. It is about education mostly. I had to educate my in-laws a few years ago about why they shouldn't breed their BYB lab (who has skin problems and is at least 60+ lbs over weight and had a cherry eye at the time) who came from a random lady in the pennysaver because 'he has such a nice temperament'.

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Here is an article showing that many, many, folks WANT to spay and neuter, but cannot afford too.

 

Something to think about when one is suggestion legislation.

 

( hope the link works)

 

We have clinics here in KC where you can get a dog spayed for about $50. Cats are less. But that still is a lot if you can't afford to buy groceries.

 

 

 

 

 

http://beyondbreed.com/the-cronuts-and-spayneuter-craze/

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I recently shared a link on my FB page that informed people of a 10$ microchip, vaccination and even a 10$ spay an neuter clinic in our area. I'm sure MO is not the only state doing this sort of thing. It's to bad it's not advertised and promoted more.

 

If anyone in MO (St. Louis Area) needs any of the above mentioned things and is hurting on funds, even though it states that there is no income qualifying needed just pm me and I'll try and hook you up with the post. I don't know how to get it on here.

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We have licensing here for all dogs. Altered dogs are cheaper than intact dogs. But the licensing/dog laws are antiquated. For instance it's illegal to take a bitch in heat off of your property. Anyways, my dog, my choice. I am perfectly responsible with my dogs. I had an intact female for 3 years with no puppies. So, while I agree that John Q Public isn't up to the additional challenge of keeping an unaltered dog, those of us who are responsible enough should be allowed to make the choice for what we feel is best since there are health related pros and cons

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Here is an article showing that many, many, folks WANT to spay and neuter, but cannot afford too.

 

Something to think about when one is suggestion legislation.

 

( hope the link works)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://beyondbreed.com/the-cronuts-and-spayneuter-craze/

 

There are free/affordable spayneuter campaigns. But I'd say that if one can't afford the cost of spayneuter, does one have the means to support the dog? What if there were any minor vet emergency?

 

Work around that would be breeders charging the extra cost of spayneuter when selling the puppy with a 'good for one spayneuter voucher' at the vet. Becomes 'free' for the owner with full cost being paid with the puppy (talking pet dogs here, working dogs is another world and really marginal compared to pet overpopulation)

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I think everyone here supports responsible breeding but opposes backyard breeding, puppy mills, and negligent/unintentional breeding.

 

To cut back on the rate of unwanted pups and irresponsible breeders, I personally think that we should enact legislation that would require anyone with an unspayed/unneutered dog to get a license, which would only be available to responsible breeders whose homes and facilities have been inspected.

 

I'm sure that sounds a little too nanny-state to some people, though. What do you think?

 

 

Absolutely not.

 

I own an intact male. He lives here. I have no breeding bitches. I have no intentions of ever owning a breeding bitch. I certainly would not want someone to come inspect my house to tell me whether or not I can keep my intact male.

 

What, exactly, would this hypothetical inspector be looking for? Who would do the inspecting? What would the criteria be? Who would establish and write this criteria? Would they tell me that my intact boy, who lives in my house and sleeps beside my bed, should properly be kept in a kennel? Are they going to tell me how that kennel should be built, cleaned and maintained? (And how much would it cost me to build a kennel to their specs?) Or maybe they'd just tell me I need to build a 6-foot fence around my property ... And are they going to tell me at what age I should get a pup neutered and then are they going to come check on me or fine me, if I fail to do so in within the time limit?

 

Not only no, but HELL no. The puppy mills are already USDA compliant, so laws like this wouldn't touch them, and the backyard breeders and pit bull fighters would just go on being illegal.

 

Nope. Not to my liking at all.

 

~ Gloria

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