Vox Pupuli: Chicago Spay/Neuter Ordinance Making Fur Fly

by John Lenti

In an attempt to curb dog fighting and animal overpopulation, Chicago aldermen Edmund Burke (D-14) and Virginia Rugai (D-19) are proposing that Chicago require all pet owners to spay or neuter their pets. The Pet Overpopulation and Safety Ordinance has become one of the most polarizing forces in the otherwise unified dog-loving community. 

The American Kennel Club, the Anti-Cruelty Society and the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) oppose the ordinance. The Humane Society, P.A.W.S, and Mayor Daley support the ordinance. Who would imagine that the Humane Society and Anti-Cruelty Society would ever find themselves on opposite sides of an issue? 

Vox Pupuli asked Dr. Scott Rovner from the Roscoe Village Animal Hospital why the CVMA opposes the ordinance. Officially, the CVMA worries that the ordinance will discourage otherwise responsible dog owners from visiting their vets, resulting in increased incidents of rabies. But Dr. Rovner actually thinks the ordinance is a good one and stands opposed to the CVMA.

The CVMA's position seems odd: spaying and neutering your pet is part of responsible pet ownership unless you are a breeder. The Pet Ownership and Safety Ordinance accommodates breeding. 

From my point of view as a dog park user and Puptown volunteer, the proposed ordinance would make things much easier. Chicago Dog Friendly Areas (DFAs) in general -- and Puptown at Margate Park in particular -- can get crowded. Introduce an intact dog to a crowded dog park, and the atmosphere becomes absolutely electrified. The Pet Overpopulation and Safety Ordinance would help toward the goal of reducing dog fights. 

The City of Chicago already acknowledges that special precautions are required when visiting dog parks. To obtain a DFA permit (required as of 2006), dogs must be up to date on their vaccinations, including bordatella, which protects against the bacterial strain of "kennel cough." This vaccination is required in most boarding and daycare centers as well, since kennel cough is easily spread in crowded environments.

If we acknowledge that crowded environments need special precautions to protect the health of the dog and their handlers, shouldn't spaying or neutering be considered a reasonable precaution?

What do you think about the Chicago ordinance and the dog park suggestion? We'd love to hear your thoughts.