Anderson, Ind.—
Pet owners who don't spay or neuter their pets could soon face some hefty fines.An ordinance will go before the Anderson City Council Thursday requiring owners to fix their pets or pay a $100 penalty.
"We are so overwhelmed we got 19 dogs in one hour," says Maleah Stringer, director of the Anderson Animal Care and Control.
In just the past year, the Anderson Animal Care and Control has taken in more than 1,000 animals -- 95% of them weren't spayed or neutered.
"People don't take pet ownership responsibly. They don't see the need to be compassionate. Animals are disposable," she says.
Stringer hopes a proposed ordinance making pet neutering mandatory will help.
"We need to lower the numbers. It's going to reduce the amount of abuse we see in our community. It's going to reduce the numbers coming into our shelter."
Pet owners who fail to do so could be fined $100 and breeders would be required to obtain a permit or also face fines.
"It's not to make money. It's just to try to get some control over the situation," Stringer contends.
"A lot of people can't afford it," admits Joe Brough of Anderson.
Kevin Snideman, who is currently unemployed, says doing so would create a hardship for him.
"$100 is an awful lot of money right now," he says.
And thinks for $100, he should get something out of the deal.
"There ought to be some kind of compensation if they're going to make everybody do it," says Snideman.
Stringer says they will use that money to get people's pets fixed. And the fine is subject to the individual's situation.
"They can pay as much as they can afford. If they can't afford anything they can come here and volunteer their time."
The proposed ordinance will be voted on at the Anderson City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The only other county in Indiana that's been successful in passing a similar ordinance is Hamilton County.
