US Virgin Islands Mandatory Spay Neuter Legislation

i can definitely get behind that one

it would be nice if they offered free ( without limits, i know it would be a financial strain on the vets ) spay neuter for all stray-that would help in the long run.

i have always thought there was a limit of one stray during those offerings.

With all the money, HSSTT, Lucky Paws spends on vets for spay and neuter animals, they would be able to hire and house their own. Unfortunately, that would decrease income for vets here so they are not on board with that.

Lucky Paws regularly sponsors spay and neuter events on STT.
Cost is $25 which is considerably less than vets charge.
Think it costs them $85 if they take animals to vet for regular s/n.

The shelter here is overrun, the number of animals euthanized overwhelming.

Good news.
Sent petition to Senator O'Reilly and she said she'd be happy to sponsor.

"... reduce the cost to our local government ..."? Without going into detail, I would rather see the STT and STX humane societies combining their efforts into getting the legally mandated government funding which I don't believe they've received for close to (or maybe even over) 20 years now, nor have made any coordinated and concentrated effort to obtain it. $75,000 per annum goes a long way in funding operating expenses, community education and FREE spay/neuter programs.

I'm all for this initiative but ultimately it will be just another VI law that will be ignored.

Maybe but at least it's a first step in the right direction.

Before leaping to sign it's wise to read up on similar programs elsewhere and there are countless online articles discussing the pros and cons of such legislation. This article in my opinion provides a good overview:

http://www.americanhumane.org/assets/pdfs/animals/pa-pa-spay-neuter-article.pdf

Note these excerpts:

"… Opponents assert that the cost of hiring officers, implementing procedures and passing out fines will quickly add up. The grassroots animal activist group Save Our Dogs reports that passage of spay/neuter legislation in Pinellas County, Fla., resulted in a 75 percent increase in the animal control budget. Opponents further suggest that these types of funds could be used to create and bolster most low-cost spay/neuter clinics…"

"… In speaking out against a mandatory spay/neuter proposal in Davidson County,N.C., last year, the American Kennel Club wrote that mandatory spay/neuter laws are extremely difficult to enforce and that irresponsible owners can evade the laws by not licensing their pets…"

"… While American Humane supports mandatory spay/neuter of all shelter and rescue animals prior to adoption, we believe in general that expenses associated with mandatory spay/neuter legislation would be better spent on low- or no-cost spay/neuter programs …"

I just sent the below to Senator OReilly.

http://www.laanimalservices.com/laws-policies/spayneuter-ordinance/

http://www.care2.com/causes/do-mandatory-spay-and-neuter-laws-work.html

https://www.aspca.org/nyc/mobile-spay-neuter-clinic/position-statement-on-mandatory-spayneuter-laws

Maybe these links that might be helpful.

1. The other thing is that all our shelters have been severely under funded, forever.

2. Local vets don't want the shelters to have their own on site veterinarians as they make good money from spaying and neutering shelter animals. This affects all our shelters in terms of time and money spent, paying for procedures and personnel dropping off and picking up animals at different vet offices across the islands, gas, etc.

Think the charge by local vets to shelters is around $85 per animal.
I may be wrong and someone can correct me.

I received the following from Delia, founder of Lucky Paws.

Hi and thank you to all involved!
Only by working together can we bring about the needed change for our community and companion animals. The surplus needs to stop.
It is not complicated and achievable since we R indeed an island.

We have a feral cat symposium on STX at the Buccaneer Hotel on Aug 22 since ferals are a huge component of the overpopulation and the Cat Cafe program is already making an impact on shelter intake for cats on St. Thomas.

I have contacted HSI who is familiar with our work and sample legislation is on its way!!! I will forward your petition to STX and St. John as well.

Thank you Senator O'Reilly for considering our request for a more humane Virgin Islands! We can do it!

Dellia Holodenschi, President, Lucky Paws Foundation
340 513-1854 Luckypawssttvi.com
Prevention is kinder than destruction
Spay or Neuter your Pet!

[www.laanimalservices.com]

This article which you inked is from 2008. An update to the situation in LA from 2014 ( http://dogtime.com/advocacy-column-mandatory-spay-and-neuter-laws-do-not-work.html notes:

“Jurisdictions with mandatory spay/neuter laws, such as Los Angeles, have found that an oft-quoted reason for people turning pets into animal shelters is “spay/neuter.” With costs for low-cost spay/neuter as high as $155, and clinics typically a substantial distance from the communities with the greatest need, it is no surprise some people see that complying with the law through surrendering their dog to the animal shelter might provide the pet with services that they cannot access or afford. Los Angeles currently euthanizes about 36 percent of the animals in their shelters — a statistic most people remain unaware of.”

This which you quoted ([www.care2.com]) is clearly less in favor of MSN laws than on well-run low cost spay/neuter programs.

And the link you provided from the ASPCA clearly says, “The ASPCA does not support laws that mandate spay/neuter of all owned animals within a community;” but continues on to extol its preference for low cost spay neuter programs, etc.

I do support the intention of this law but it would be a useless law even if passed. I can't spew any numbers but A LOT of people on island here in STX never take their animals to the vet. They may if the animal is minutes away from dying but otherwise that dog or cat is simply left to wander the streets and only eats at home or in a dog's case chained up or fenced in to "protect" the house. Spending ANY money on a "pet" for a lot of people here is unheard of unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. I would support any money needed to enforce this law be spent in education and outreach programs to include low or no cost spay/neuters. There would need to be a small team that could travel around island to individual residences and neighborhoods to educate people and perform the needed procedure. By fining or making it a law requiring all animals to be spayed/neutered will further alienate those people from ever getting care for their animals. They will become even more resentful of another law seemingly made to take money from them.

Well said.

I realize there are major problems and obstacles but what's the option? Continue to euthanize thousands of animals annually and do nothing?

I agree with outreach and education programs as well as low cost spay and neuter but until our shelters have more funding, are better organized to create and fund these programs and have their own on site veterinary services to defray costs, with their own vets, it's not going to happen.

The only way it would really work is to have mobile surgical teams combing the island picking up any animal they see and ensuring its fixed. If an animal is found to not be fixed, then they fix it on the spot...like a catch and release program. Just a thought...

I realize there are major problems and obstacles but what's the option? Continue to euthanize thousands of animals annually and do nothing?

I agree with outreach and education programs as well as low cost spay and neuter but until our shelters have more funding, are better organized to create and fund these programs and have their own on site veterinary services to defray costs, with their own vets, it's not going to happen.

The Humane Society of St Thomas for many, many years had active outreach programs and education programs while the Brinkerhoff Fund has always provided low cost spay and neuter programs for low income residents. And for several years they had a designated Animal Control Officer. That was when the mandated government funding of $75K/pa was coming in, provided to the society to perform the animal services which are legally the responsibility of the VI Government.

The "solution" is not to embark on a program which has proven unsuccessful but to insist on the funding being provided. And did you go to the recent Annual Meeting of the STT Humane Society? I'd be interested to know what their annual membership stands at now. With over 50K residents here. my bet is that their membership stands at less than 200. At $30 for an annual adult membership, a thriving membership of even 10% of the population would amount to $150K. Doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out the options.

Granted.
When I was on board we had 2000 members.
Last I heard they were down to 200 members.

Another 'feel good' law with good intentions, but unenforceable.

Who and how will determine if an animal has not been spade?

I can see it now - the Spade Patrol comes to my house and asks
to examine my pets for scars? Do I have to register my pet and get
a certificate and show it to an inspector? Is my vet going to report me to the
authorities if I bring my pet i for a check up or emergency? Will my vet
automatically spade my pet if I can't produce a breeders certificate?

Seriously, how will this be enforced? That is why I won't sign the petition
because that part is not mentioned.

And how will it be funded when we are broke?

These are all obstacles that need to be addressed.
It's not perfect but neither is what is presently in plac that's not working.

There's legislation in place in other jurisdictions that will be looked at and issues addressed before anything can move forward. This isn't going to happen overnight so instead of being dismissive, be part of a solution.

Yes Alana, this proposed bill is premature and not well though out (written) and when it has been then I will be part of the solution. But I won't sign off on 'feel good' proposals that are incomplete.

And since we are on the topic, if the penalties for animal abuse are the same (or close to) penalties for human abuse, in effect putting an animal on the same level as a human, then isn't it abuse to neuter an animal without its' consent?

It's not a bill. It's a petition for a proposed bill.

Considering world population, spay and neuter might be worth looking at starting with the Duggers on that show,what is it now,
"25 children and counting?" Glad they finally cancelled that program.

Laws that can't be enforced are just suggestions.

Alana, I'm really confused about your adamant position when even the several links you've provided as supportive of MSN are in fact not supportive at all (except for the one article which was from 2008 but which later statistics negated). Did you actually read those reports and opinions?

"There's legislation in place in other jurisdictions that will be looked at and issues addressed before anything can move forward. " So in essence what you're saying is that despite the fact that many communities have already looked into the issue and some have instituted such programs, despite the fact that there is no statistical affirmation that such programs work and despite the fact that even respected animal advocacy groups are not supportive of MSN, the people of the USVI should nonetheless invest thousands of dollars in legislative "research".

Instead of reinventing the wheel, better to work towards fixing the old one which needs just a good scrubbing off and a liberal lubrication to get it rolling.

I'm not inventing the wheel.
I am supporting the invention of the wheel.

It's a petition, for goodness sake, and obviously things need
to be addressed but why not give it a chance and see how it goes?
You got anything better to do or create, make happen or make better, OT?
I am sharing with those that may have an interest.
If you don't, well, that's entirely your prerogative.

If you wish to have things remain the same, with thousands of animals in our islands being euthanized, annually, that's your prerogative.

Maybe we won't achieve mandatory spay and neuter.
Maybe it's not a good idea to do but we won't know until researched fully and legislation drafted, if feasible.
Maybe instead we can get updated animal cruelty laws and better enforcement or more and better funding for low cost spay and neuter programs.
Maybe can we choose to do nothing and have nothing change.

It's opening a dialogue. One that's needed, IMO.

There's a big difference between creating or signing a petition and drafting legislation and getting anything become law.

The "petition" only came up today and we have one senator willing
to sponsor. Humane Society International is willing to help. Contact
is being made with all 3 island's shelters and non profits who directly care for animals.

It's a good ting!

I read every word of the articles you linked in support of the MSN petition as I was genuinely interested to find out more. However, and as pointed out earlier, not one of them does in fact support MSN which is why I questioned that you had actually read them.

You’re apparently either unwilling or unable to discuss the findings or the opinions of others and as far as your comment, “You got anything better to do or create, make happen or make better, OT?” I think I’ve already answered that since I agree with the opinions and alternatives already given in the various articles linked.