Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Pet sterilization ordinance goes into effect Thursday

Microchip

Steve Marcus

Volunteer Karin Lemmon uses a reader to check the number of an AVID (American Veterinary Identification Device) microchip after injecting it under the skin of a kitten at the Bonanza Cat Hospital Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009.

Microchip

Volunteer Karin Lemmon injects an AVID (American Veterinary Identification Device) microchip under the skin of a kitten at the Bonanza Cat Hospital Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009. Launch slideshow »

An ordinance requiring that nearly all dogs and cats in the city of Las Vegas be spayed or neutered went into effect Thursday.

The ordinance applies to all dogs and cats over the age of four months. In addition to the spay-and-neuter provisions, the ordinance also requires that cats and dogs have tiny microchips implanted before being adopted or recovered from an impound.

The Las Vegas City Council adopted the ordinance in November in an attempt to reduce rampant pet overpopulation in city. Over the last three years there has been a 10 percent increase in the number of impounded dogs and a 5 percent increase in the number of impounded cats by the city of Las Vegas, according to city officials.

The ordinance includes the following exceptions:

• Animals being held by a shelter or other organization for adoption;

• Animals held by people with a fanciers’ permit;

• Animals that are incapable of breeding or are medically unsuited for the procedure;

• Service and law enforcement animals.

Animal Control will require verified documentation from a veterinarian indicating that a service animal is required for the pet owner and documentation that the animal has been through special needs training. Animals that are incapable of breeding must have a certified letter from a veterinarian.

The ordinance is similar to one adopted by the city of North Las Vegas. A Clark County ordinance is scheduled to go into effect May 1.

The city’s detention and enforcement chief, Karen Coyne, has said in fiscal 2009 the city impounded 19,682 animals -- more than 12,000 of which, or 62 percent, were euthanized.

Regionwide in 2008, 55,000 stray animals found their way to shelters. More than 30,000 were put to death.

The ordinance is in part aimed at so-called backyard breeders, who have been illegally breeding pets to turn a quick buck -- and severely adding to the overpopulation problems.

Violating the new ordinance would be a misdemeanor carrying possible fines of $225 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense and $1,000 for the third and subsequent offenses.

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