ANIMAL SPAY ORDINANCE - The Caddo Parish Commission is mulling over a possible ordinance that would require dogs and cats to get spayed. Commissioner John-Paul Young introduced the ordinance which was originally aimed only at spaying the pit-bull breed of dogs. It was proposed because North Louisiana animal rights activists say there’s a problem with pit bull overpopulation and Caddo Parish Animal Services data seems to back that up as Pit Bulls have made up most of the euthanizations at its facility so far this year.
Animal rights activists say a mandatory Caddo Parish spay and neuter ordinance will bring change, arguing that sterilization is better than the euthanasia of mass numbers of dogs every year. Megan Everett, founder of Parish Paws, a group that works to find permanent homes for strays used to work at animal services. Speaking before the commission last week, she shared her experiences with euthanizing unwanted animals.
“To go to a kennel and pull a dog out of there that is wagging its tail, walking with you to take it to the room and to hold it and tell it that it wasn’t their fault as it passes away and probably licks you the entire time, that’s not fair,” Everett said.
The Caddo Commission is scheduled to vote on the proposed ordinance on December 9th however, it was amended to include all dogs and cats as a commissioner moved to have the ordinance not discriminate against a single breed of dog such as pit bulls.