County supervisors consider a spay-and-neuter requirement in unincorporated areas.

There are more cats and dogs than there are loving homes for those pets, a reality that prompted County Supervisor Luis Alejo last year to request that the County explore a spay-and-neuter ordinance “to address pet overpopulation, euthanasia rates, and overcrowded shelters with minimal staffing.”

On Tuesday, March 24, factions on both sides of the issue spoke up, urging the board to proceed or to back off.

“There are other ways to help with animal overpopulation that doesn’t involve irreversible surgery,” Daniel Muñoz, a Salinas dog owner, said.

“I’m very supportive and I would like the board to please take this into consideration because we are killing as many as we are adopting out,” said Anita Simone, a long-time dog owner.

Cindy Burnham is chief administrator at Hitchcock Road Animal Services Agency, where an advisory committee is recommending against the proposed ordinance at this time, citing costs, staffing and access to care. Instead, the committee recommends sustainable funding, updating existing ordinances, increasing low-cost veterinary services and more.

“If you don’t have access to care, having an ordinance is not going to help. We should focus on making sure there’s access to care before we mandate everybody to do that,” Burnham says, noting veterinarian services are scarce, especially in South County. Spay/neuter expenses can be $1,000.

Spay and neuter ordinances have mixed outcomes, Burnham adds.

In neighboring Santa Cruz County, Amber Rowland, general manager at Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter, opposes such an ordinance, noting data doesn’t show a direct link to reducing the shelter population.

Seaside has a mandatory spay-and-neuter ordinance for cats and dogs at 5 and 6 months of age, respectively. According to the nonprofit SNIP Bus, a mobile clinic, shelter intakes and overpopulation in the city have dropped by 50 percent. (SNIP offered a $25 spay/neuter clinic for Seaside pet owners on March 31.)

While this has been a positive outcome in the city, illegal breeding still occurs. On March 26, Seaside Police and Animal Control shut down a suspected illegal dog breeder on Amador Avenue where they say they found dogs living in hazardous conditions.

Currently, the County requires residents to have a breeding permit (for more than two litters). “We don’t have sufficient staffing to really effectively enforce the ordinances that are on our books now,” Burnham adds.

Other entities that offer spay and neuter services include SPCA Monterey County and South County Animal Rescue. SPCA fixes over 5,500 animals every year at prices usually ranging from $145 to $190. Its mobile clinics offer similar services starting at $25.

In March, at Hitchcock Road Animal Services’ most recent free spay/neuter clinic, nearly 600 people tried to secure 200 spots.

On April 20, the Hitchcock board of directors will discuss the proposed ordinance before it goes to the Board of Supervisors on May 12.