Spay-and-neuter ordinance in unincorporated areas moves a step forward.

Since last year, County of Monterey officials have been at work on drafting an ordinance that would require pet dogs and cats in unincorporated areas of the county to be spayed or neutered. 

On Tuesday, June 9, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved moving forward with the ordinance, but it included major revisions and an updated fee schedules for fines and breeder permits that will more closely mirror Seaside’s spay-and-neuter ordinance. 

The version presented on June 9 includes revising existing ordinances, adding a definition of spayed and neutered and making it mandatory to spay and neuter dogs and cats over the age of 6 months. It allows exceptions for pets with medical conditions. Dogs and cats trained for law enforcement, and community/feral cats, are not included. 

Supervisor Glenn Church requested adding higher fines for recurrent violations. 

Supervisor Luis Alejo said the county’s ordinance followed Seaside’s ordinance, but it failed to include key aspects from it, including enforcement, specific penalties and unaltered animal certification (a permit that allows pets over 6 months from being spayed or neutered). 

Alejo made the initial request to pursue a spay-and-neuter requirement in 2025. He said on June 9 that teens enrolled in his young supervisors program had brought the issue to his attention. 

“Spaying and neutering is one of the most humane ways to try to address the overpopulation of animals taking place all over our county,” Alejo added.

In addition to having an ordinance in place, Alejo said, the County should continue to provide resources, including education and spay-and-neuter clinics to increase availability of services. 

Members of the public expressed contrasting opinions on having a mandatory ordinance. 

“The advisory committee is not against spay/neuter, only the mandatory aspect of it,” said David Alexander, vice chair of the Hitchcock Road Animal Services Advisory Committee. 

A mandatory ordinance would have unintended consequences, Alexander argued, including pet owners surrendering their pets and increased costs when pets are spayed or neutered too young. 

Eli David, co-founder of the Paws Club at Carmel High School, showed his support for the ordinance. “This would not only serve as a humane solution to our local animal overpopulation crisis, but serve our county to be a paradigm in paving the path toward a model on how a government can impact animal welfare,” he said.

During the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Hitchcock Road Animal Services euthanized 1,041 animals. Cindy Burnham, chief administrator for the agency, said only two animals were euthanized for lack of space. The rest were euthanized due to medical or behavioral reasons.  

The revised ordinance will come back to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, June 23 for a first reading followed by potential adoption in July.