On our way...

[Roxane]

Great News in North Carolina.
This isn't the whole answer to the overpopulation problem but it will sure go a long way. It is going to eliminate so many "accidental" breedings that result in puppies having to be rescued (if they are lucky) or pts.
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/html1999/Bills/CurrentVersion/Ratified/Senate/sbil1184 .full.html (http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/html1999/Bills/CurrentVersion/Ratified/Senate/sbil1184.full.html)

This is a great beginning. There are a few more statutes that need revision before we are out of the Dark Ages.
I would ask all of you living in NC to please email this to your local papers, with a request that they do an article. If the people do not support the legislation, all will have been in vain.
Can you tell, I am really, really excited about this?http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/spotting.gif
Roxane

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Roxane on October 09, 2000 at 03:23 PM</font>

[dutchman]

Very good news especially with all the bad press NC has had of late with it's rather lax animal rights laws. A very big step in the right direction.

Just curious but how many other areas are like ours and charge a larger licensing fee for unaltered adult dogs than for altered animals? It's another small way to try and help keep animal populations under control. Of course many of those who bring irresponsible litters into the world also don't bother to license their animals in the first place.

Tom

[Frzframe]

I like the idea of a program to help pay for the cost of altering an animal. But I don't like the idea of having to pay a much higher price for an unaltered one. You see we have a nine year old Lasha Apso (sp) who was hit by a car when young. She was being baby sat by a relative and decided to find her way home. She isn't able to undergo another surgery because of all the trauma shes already been through. We are responsible owners and she has never had any pups. Why should we have to pay higher prices? I know there needs to be a solution but I don't see how this would help. Like dutchman said the ones who keep having all the pups aren't registered to being with.
~Shonda

[Roxane]

Tom and Shonda:
I can understand feelings on both sides of the license issue even though there is no such thing as a required pet license in WNC. In some more metropolitan areas of the state it may be a local ordinance. Maybe our NC members in other places woud know?
Tom, do you know if, as in Shonda's case, there are exceptions to your law? Perhaps,if the owner can present a vet certificate stating it would endanger the life of a pet to undergo surgery?
Roxane

[Mark]

Good for them . . . I hope it does some good. Here in Michigan the licensing is done by the county and (if memory serves right) it is $30 for unaltered and $15 for spayed/neutered. Let's hope other states will take their cue from NC.

Mark

[dutchman]

I'm not aware of any exceptions in the fee structure for special cases. The fees are not that bad.
Animals under one year of age-FREE

Altered animals over 1 yr of age-$10
Unaltered animals over 1 yr of age-$25

For Senior Citizens(Age 62+)
Altered animals over 1 yr of age-FREE
Unaltered animals over 1 yr of age-$25

I think most people who can afford the other expenses of having a pet can afford these fees.

Tom