Curb backyard breeders

City voters rejected a $4.2 million bond expanding the Spokane County animal shelter to accommodate both the city of Spokane and Spokane County animal control (“Without money for shelter …,” Sept. 3). Why have the city and county NOT passed an ordinance requiring a license to breed animals?

Requiring a costly breeder’s license would virtually put a stop to garage and backyard breeders dumping thousands of animals on the Spokane market each week. Senate Bill 250 (aka the Pet Responsibility Act) was approved June 2 by the California state Senate. It requires adult dogs and free roaming cats in California to be spayed or neutered. Owners wanting to keep an unaltered dog would have to obtain a permit (working and hunting dogs exempted).

Santa Cruz, Calif., when similar legislation was approved, saw euthanasia rates drop by 60 percent.

Without backyard-bred animals adding to our area’s pet population, we wouldn’t have to worry about expanding our animal shelter. Oh, did I mention, over 12,000 dogs and cats were killed in our area’s three shelters in 2008? This horrible loss of life, above the monetary amount, is a far greater cost for us all as human beings.

Tia Rosetti-Mills

Newman Lake