The Sac County Board of Superheroes is scheduled to discuss at 3:00PM today an idea that seeks to decrease the number of strays put to death (it’s not sleep, it’s death) at the County’s shelter each year. For frame of reference, the County killed more than half of the 17,000 cats and dogs that they “impounded” last year alone.

The County wants to do two things:

1. Increase the registration fee for pets who are NOT spayed or neutered.
2. Require veterinarians to disclose the names of folks to who come in and get their pet vaccinated.

I commend the County for putting animal welfare even somewhere on its agenda. However . . .

I think this idea - while well intended - would do nothing but ensure that:

1. Fewer people register their pets.
2. Fewer people vaccinate their pets.

Addressing the disclosure issue first, requiring vets to report the names of pet owners who get their animals vaccinated is a little Commie Pinky for my taste. Plus, once told of the disclosure requirement (which I’m sure they’d have to be) pet owners who seek to avoid being known will simply not get their pets vaccinated (which, of course, undermines the entire goal of ensuring animal welfare to begin with).

As to fee increase - sure, some folks would pay the higher registration fee - and some may even “change their ways” and actually get their pet spayed or neutered. But all told, I think the fee increase will only serve to dissuade people from registering their animals, which is already a problem in and of itself.

I think the idea would do more harm than good in terms of animal well being. But the County should keep trying . . . because this problem is not new, costs the County a lot of money that would be better spent somewhere else, and will not go away unless something is done.

Lastly, if you read the Sac Bee article linked in this post, and are curious about what can be done to stop puppy mills and backyard breeders, go to the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s web site and read about ALDF v. Woodley.