KPCC News In Brief

City Controller Laura Chick says new spay-neuter ordinance needs more planning and public outreach

The city of L.A.’s spay and neuter program is spinning its wheels. That’s what the city controller’s office says in the results of an audit it released today. KPCC’s Brooke Binkowski has details.

Brooke Binkowski: The city council passed the ordinance in February; it goes into effect this October. Under the new law, owners must spay or neuter their cats and dogs older than four months. City Controller Laura Chick says the animal services department hasn’t done enough planning or public outreach. Without that, she says, the ordinance lacks teeth.

Laura Chick: It’s all about lowering the unwanted pet population, and achieving a no-kill policy and practice in the city of L.A. It’s the right thing to do, it’s the humane thing to do, it’s about public health, but the public doesn’t know. And it’s time that we get the ordinance together with effective implementation, otherwise we’ve got sound-bite solutions and feel-good legislation.

Binkowski: Animal Services chief Ed Boks says Chick’s absolutely right.

Ed Boks: The Department is very committed to spay-neuter, we embrace the ordinance that the City Council enacted. The fact of the matter is, is, that no budget came with that.

Binkowski: Boks says his department will rely heavily on pro bono and volunteer services to get the word out about the spay-neuter program.

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• August 19, 2008 4:49 PM
• Categories: Criminal Justice, Health, Politics/Public Affairs