Marathon Hearing Ends with New County Pet Ordinance
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday night that calls for a secondary enforcement of spaying and neutering the pets of irresponsible owners. Passage of the ordinance followed hours of public testimony from both those who supported it and those who opposed it.
The ordinance, approved 5-0, mandates spaying and neutering animals if, for example, the pet owner allows their animal to roam freely. The ordinance applies to residents in unincorporated Riverside County.
Ordinance No. 630.12 also calls for mandatory microchipping. It goes into effect 30 days from Tuesday’s vote.
The complete ordinance can be found via this link: http://www.rcdas.org/pdf/RCO_630.12-11-19-08.pdf
Animal Services Director Robert Miller and county Chief Veterinarian Dr. Allan Drusys addressed the Supervisors, saying that the ordinance was necessary to curb the endless flow of unwanted dogs and cats that end up in county shelters and, ultimately, euthanized.
Supervisor Roy Wilson supported the ordinance, but requested the formation of a review committee of its supporters and opponents. If the ordinance needed to be tweaked, the committee could help in that process, Wilson suggested. His idea was supported by his four colleagues following the seven-hour public hearing.
Director Miller will work with the committee in whatever refining and honing the law might need in order to reduce the number of animals euthanized each year in Riverside County.
During the public hearing, Miller stressed that the law will have little impact on responsible pet owners because they are not the ones contributing to the countless litters produced annually.