News Details (Posted: December 4, 2006):

COUNTY TOUGHER ON PETS

Full Description:

SAN ANDREAS - The tradition of giving away recently weaned kittens and puppies by sitting with the cute little balls of fuzz in front of a local grocery is probably about to end in Calaveras County. Calaveras County supervisors on Monday are scheduled to consider an ordinance that would ban both selling and giving away domestic animals in public places. Animal rights advocates say such a ban prevents a number of problems, including the proliferation of unspayed and unneutered pets. "We are very happy about this ordinance and think it will protect cats and dogs from being given away for other uses, for scientific uses, food for boa constrictors or training fighting dogs," said Jon Dashner, president of the Calaveras Humane Society and a member of the county Domestic Animal Advisory Committee that suggested the ordinance. Ban on giveaways The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors will consider banning the sale or giving away of pets in public places when it meets at 9 a.m. Monday in board chambers, 891 Mountain Ranch Road, San Andreas. Simple economics accounts for much of the attraction of giving and getting pets for free. Cindy Garringer, the volunteer who runs the cat adoption program for the Calaveras Humane Society, said it costs $120 or more to run tests, give immunizations, and spay or neuter a kitten. That means an average litter of five kittens would cost the owner $600 to prepare for adoption. The Humane Society subsidizes the cost of these services to the kittens it provides for adoption. "We ask a $50 donation per kitten, or it is two for $80," Garringer said. The Humane Society pays the rest of the $120 to $150 cost, she said. "It is a really good deal for people." Jo Ingraham, chairwoman of the Domestic Animal Advisory Committee, said banning casual hand-offs of pets will help control the spread of diseases. "The animals in 90 percent of the cases have not been seen by a vet," Ingraham said. "They may have internal parasites; they may have heartworm." Ingraham said the proposed ordinance has an exception that would allow the Humane Society or other groups cooperating with county Animal Services to give pets up for adoption. Garringer said she hopes eliminating the option of simply handing out pets from a cardboard box will force owners to take more responsibility. "If it is against the law to give away their animals, maybe they will think, 'Maybe I should get my animal altered.' Because it is not as easy as just standing in front of Save Mart anymore." Garringer said she would even rather see animals dumped at the pound than handed out in front of a store. "At least at the shelter I know they are going to get their first shot, and I can make sure they are healthy." Garringer said she has found homes for 460 cats so far this year, most of which came from the Calaveras County Animal Shelter. She said about 600 cats have been euthanized at the shelter in the same period. Contact Mother Lode reporter Dana M. Nichols at (209) 754-9534 or dnichols@recordnet.com