Conference misery::feline_v1

    I personally think this is great!  Even though kittens and puppies
    are SO cute to have, finding them good adoptive homes is sometimes
    the hardest part, especially if the dogs and cats are not purebreds.
    All my animals are fixed; I would have loved to have a litter of
    kittens, but then I knew that either I would end up keeping them
    all :-) because they were soooo cute or I just couldn't find homes
    for them.  If only more people would be responsible for their pets,
    then we wouldn't see SOOO many animals looking for homes and/or ending
    up in a shelter.  Maybe with the help of this law, people will get
    smart and not let their animals run around loose and then find
    themselves with an unwanted litter of kittens or puppies.  I for
    one, certainly hope so.
    
    

I got both of my cats as kittens from Angel Memorial which is an MSPCA
facility in Jamaica Plain (Boston) two years ago.  The adoption fee on
both included the cost of neutering/spaying;  I could have had them 
"fixed" there for free or I could have submitted certificates of spay/
neuter for a refund.

I chose to have both cats taken care of by my local vet but never applied
for the refund because I was pleased with the work they do at Angel
Memorial and figured they could use it as a contribution to a worthy cause.

So if this were in Colorado they could try to take my cats away from me 
since I never sent them the spay/neuter certificates?

Pam

    re note#2:
    
    The  point of the new law is to get your pet sterilzed. Most 
    organizations in Massachusetts do NOT provide that service. Yes,
    Angell Memorial does because it is part of the MSPCA and they are
    working this program actively. Also, there are humane societies
    providing this service, and I am sure there are other groups doing
    it as well. 
    
    It would seem that if a person did not want to get his/her refund
    for a reason such as wanting the $ to go towards the specified services
    of unclaimed $ (which would be very nice of that person), then he/she
    would simply show the certificate to the animal control officer and 
    wouldn't take the refund; and that's that - the adoption is a done
    deal. As for that town in Colorado, I would think that would be the 
    case there too - The officers would much prefer to see a neutered 
    pet in someone's home than to have to pick it up. 
    
    This law will go into effect, and in comparison to laws of other
    more western states, it is fairly mild.  I am in favor of it.

    I'm not sure why you think this law is a hassle.  It's sop out here
    in Calif., as far as I know.  If you don't show up to reclaim the
    deposit by the deadline, some volunteer calls you.  (I know, because
    Sweetie's neutering had to be delayed on the vet's advice until
    he had a chance to regain his health.)  There are people who volunteer
    to do this checking, esp. those who can't handle working in the
    shelter itself.
    

    p.s. I may be wrong, but I seem to recall reading that since this
    type of law went into effect out here, the number of unwanted animals
    has substantially decreased.
    

    I guess I did not make myself clear --- about "hassle". The law isn't
    a hassle - please note that I am part of a humane society that supports
    this law VERY actively - I also work with my local animal control
    officer; also support their efforts at the town meeting level- so
    I am adamant when I say I believe in this law!! Leaving a deposit,
    getting the animal neutered, returning with the certificate - all
    on the new owners part, as well as the additional paperwork for
    the organizations involved - which can be considerable if they are
    working with limited personnel - this is what I refer to as a hassle.
    Perhaps my terminology was poor - how about time-consuming. When
    dealing with a  great number of people/dogs/cats, and without the benefit
    of a computer, it could be extremely "time consuming". But it must
    be done. 
    
    It is far easier for both the an. control officers as well as adoptive 
    "parents" if a shelter could set up a program for neutering all
    potentially adoptable animals - as long as they are old enough - prior 
    to their being adopted. That way, the new owners do not have to do it, 
    and in fact it is a sure thing that the animal will be neutered. 
    Some groups already do this - some do not.
                
    You are lucky to live in a progressive state such as California.
    We are only now beginning to approach the problem of overpopulation
    on a state-wide basis.
                  
    Pat                                   
    

    Alleluia!!  I hadn't heard the good news.  Thank you, Massachusetts,
    for entering the modern age of reason.
    
    Think we can get Digital to donate computers to assist the MSPCA/state
    in getting this program on-line?  (Anyone have any corporate cousins?)