TITLE
Recommendation to request a resolution making the month of February 2015 be officially deemed "Spay/Neuter Awareness Month" in an effort to reduce the amount of homeless animals and euthanasia in Long Beach, while promoting healthy pet practices and donations to organizations that provide spay and neuter services.
DISCUSSION
A large majority of the thousands of unwanted or stray dog and cats impounder and euthanized by Animal Care Services every year are not spayed or neutered. This does not include those animals that die in homes or on our streets each year due to abandonment, neglect, abuse, starvation, or cruelty because they are unwanted. Pet overpopulation is a matter of moral, ethical and fiscal concern for all residents and leadership in Long Beach.
Spaying and neutering our dogs and cats helps solve this tragic problem of pet overpopulation by reducing the number of unwanted animals. Encouraging awareness and appreciation of the problem of pet overpopulation and the need to spay/neuter our pets is a fundamental part of ACS' efforts in the community, but would be benefit from more promotion at the city level.
Residents should be encouraged to observe the month by having their dogs or cats spayed or neutered and by contributing to those organizations that provide spay and neuter services. This will also provide the opportunity to talk about the wonderful dogs and cats currently at Animal Care Services, all spayed or neutered, just waiting for adoption into a loving home.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
SUJA LOWENTHAL, SECOND DISTRICT
SUZIE PRICE, THIRD DISTRICT
STACY MUNGO, FIFTH DISTRICT
DEE ANDREWS, SIXTH DISTRICT