CFA Legislative ALERT
Last Updated: Friday, July 25, 2008
Chicago "Substitute Ordinance - Mandatory Spay/Neuter"
July 2008
Chicago Aldermen have suggested a possible mandatory spay/neuter
ordinance for several months. A draft has now been introduced. The MSN
ordinance will be discussed and possibly voted on at a joint committee
meeting in Chicago this coming TUESDAY JULY 29th. Let your friends in
Chicago know. Revised language for the ordinance was sent to us today
from the author's office.
This concept and wording was imported straight from California (compiled from the old failed AB
1634 and the newly passed City of Los Angeles MSN law). This legislation
requires sterilization of all cats and dogs over the age of 6 months.
The proposal would seriously impact breeders of pedigreed cats, purebred
dogs, law enforcement and other working dogs. It will be detrimental to
the unowned/feral cats. Our views must be expressed before the meeting.
WHAT TO DO:
Suggested opposition points – put in
your own words. See the CFA article –“ MSN – Pedigreed Cats are
NOT Exempt”
** Mandated
sterilization gives government authority to determine whether or when to
spay/neuter a pet – this is a decision that should remain the pet
owner’s choice with veterinary advice. It is not always possible to
determine if a kitten of 6 months will be a good show/breeding cat or
pet.
** Most owned pet cats are already sterilized – studies
show 87% to 94% nationwide with urban area rates highest. The unowned or
“loosely owned” cats may be intact but mandating spay/neuter will not
change this – low cost
sterilization and feral cat trap/neuter/return programs will. Stray
pregnant cats will be ignored rather than helped for fear of penalty.
** Pedigreed cats registered with an “approved” registry AND kept
for competing in shows are exempt. But not all cats like to show; not
all cats valuable in a breeding program can be shown or win titles (i.e.
straight eared Scottish Folds, stumpy tail Manx)
** Commercial breeders with a valid animal facility license are
exempt – with this ordinance this will be all that is left. Home-based private
breeders dedicated to the best of their breeds will no longer continue.
** Permits for each cat provide another exemption but the permit
costs $100 every year per cat. A breeder must jump through numerous hoops to obtain the permit. It is a violation for a person to allow the cat/dog to “ breed” before obtaining this permit – it is not easy to predict when a female
will be in season and have a permit in hand in advance.
** Permits include advertising requirements. Transfer of a cat/dog
even to a family member or placement of a retired show cat means providing personal information to the Commission. Permit applicants must go through a criminal history background check.
** VIOLATION penalties are extremely severe! Second violation of
any section means up to $100 fine; third violation means up to $500 AND constitutes grounds for IMPOUNDMENT.
** Impoundment for any reason requires mandated microchip and
sterilization on FIRST IMPOUNDMENT unless the animal can qualify for intact exemption. There is a hearing process, testimony within 15 days of request and circuit court appeal. But every day a cat sits in the shelter waiting for the process to be over means a greater chance for infectious disease. This is an outrageous requirement, cruel to the animal especially in times of disaster when there may be numerous animals impounded. Many who do not want to pay for a microchip and sterilization in addition to shelter housing charges will sadly abandon their cat to the shelter.
Mandated sterilization does not work. The spay/neuter law passed in Rhode Island for cats has been a failure because no one applies for a permit. The few jurisdictions that have passed MSN
ws have had no track record to assess the problems or long term negative consequences.
CONTACTS
Clubs and individuals – IMMEDIATELY send your FAX to:
Alderman Edward Burke (author)
Chair – Committee on Finance
121 N. LaSalle St. Room 302
FAX – 312-744-1955
eburke@cityofchicago.org
Alderman Virginia Rugai (author)
121 N. LaSalle St. Room 300
FAX 773-238-9049
vrugai@cityofchicago.org
Alderman Eugene Schulter Chair, Committee on License & Consumer Protection
121 N. LaSalle St. Room 300
FAX 312-744-1509
ward47@cityofchicago.org
To correspond with the CFA Legislative Committee, please send email to legislation@cfa.org | 
