Help stop pet overpopulation in Texas.
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According to the Texas Federation of Animal Care Societies, more than 700,000 dogs and cats were euthanized in animal shelters throughout Texas last year. Not only is it inhumane and irresponsible to allow animals to breed and then to abandon their offspring, but also it places a financial burden on taxpayers. In addition, pet overpopulation takes an emotional toll on shelter employees, who are faced with euthanizing healthy, adoptable pets every day.

Without mandatory spay/neuter laws for Texas’ releasing agencies -- defined as public and private animal shelters -- the growing problem of pet overpopulation will only get worse.

House Bill 4277 and Senate Bill 1845 address this distressing issue by requiring state-licensed animal shelters to sterilize all animals before they are released for adoption. This reasonable bill exempts animals that are less than 6 months old, animals that licensed veterinarians deem too unhealthy to undergo sterilization procedures, service animals and owned purebred show animals. In instances where owned, intact animals are picked up by animal control, the animals’ owners would be given the option to purchase an intact permit, similar to the differential licensing fees that many jurisdictions have already adopted.

These critical bills are spearheaded by the Texas Federation of Animal Care Societies and reflect sterilization requirements already in place in numerous shelters across the nation. The 2009 Texas Legislature adjourns on June 1.

Please ask your representative and your senator to support HB 4277/SB 1845 before time runs out!