Los Angeles dog & cat sterilization funds cut
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2009:
LOS ANGELES–“Our spay/neuter program has not been
terminated,” Los Angeles Animal Services general manager Ed Boks
clarified on March 19, 2009, six days after rumors swept the animal
welfare world that the oldest city-funded dog and cat sterilization
program anywhere was a casualty of the U.S. economic crisis.
“Distribution of our spay/neuter coupons under this program
was temporarily suspended,” Boks acknowledged. “Since
implementation of the Los Angeles spay/neuter ordinance, the demand
for these coupons has exceeded our funding. We are working with the
mayor’s office to restore distribution in a manner that can be
sustained,” Boks said.
Explained Los Angeles Daily News staff writer Rick Orlov,
“The city last year adopted a law requiring dog and cat owners to
have pets spayed or neutered when they reach four months of age. As
a way to promote the program, the city included the certificates to
cover most of the costs of the procedure.”