Pet Overpopulation and Safety Ordinance
Frequently Asked Questions
The City of Chicago’s Proposed Pet Overpopulation and Safety Ordinance
(“Spay / Neuter” Ordinance)

What is this ordinance?
Every year, thousands of pets are caged and ultimately killed at Chicago’s Animal Care & Control at great financial expense to taxpayers. Additionally, numerous accounts of roaming dog maulings plague Chicago annually, with a reported 2,174 dog bites in the city in 2007. Inhumane “backyard breeders” have found a profit-center in exploiting pets, who are then often used in dogfighting and other illegal activities. The Proposed Pet Overpopulation and Safety Ordinance will help resolve each of these issues.

This ordinance requires that cats and dogs be spayed or neutered after six months of age—a simple, harmless procedure that not only improves the health and behavior of the pet but also prevents unwanted litters from being born.

The act includes seven clear exemptions that respect the rights of compliant animal breeders, police dogs, working dogs, show dogs, law enforcement animals and for family pets deemed by a veterinarian to have a valid medical reason not to be spayed or neutered.

Aldermen Burke and Rugai have drafted this ordinance as a crime-fighting, humane, and taxpayer-friendly solution to Chicago’s pet overpopulation, stray, and animal crime problems.

Why is this ordinance necessary?
For the welfare of children and the community: Neutered and spayed pets create a safer community. Dog bites are the second most common reason for children’s emergency room visits. Un-neutered male dogs are 18 times more likely to bite, and un-spayed females are ten times more likely to bite. In 2007, more than 2,000 dog bites were reported in the City of Chicago, according to Animal Care and Control.

The cost to taxpayers: In 2008, the City of Chicago has budgeted $4.8 million for Animal Care and Control. In 2007, 26,776 animals were collected, 22,900 of which were cats and dogs, of which more than 58% were later euthanized at an average cost per animal of $175. Spay / neuter will assist in the reduction of this unwanted pet over-population because pets breed exponentially, with only one female cat or dog capable of producing thousands of offspring in only a few years. We are all paying for the neglect and irresponsibility of some pet owners.

Additionally there are many health and temperament benefits for spaying and neutering cats and dogs.

Why spay / neuter?
Dog bites and pet overpopulation are endemic societal problems that will not go away without addressing the source of the problem. Despite the broad availability of free or low-cost spay / neuter services as well as extensive public education efforts, there are still more than 19,000 animals killed in Chicago annually and reports of dog bites are not diminishing. Spayed and neutered pets simply do not have the aggressive propensity to bite and cannot procreate. It is the responsible thing for all pet owners. Exemptions are available to those who have valid reasons to refrain from spaying and neutering, and those individuals will pay, in their licensing fees, for the costs to society, rather than burdening taxpayers.

The cities of Los Angeles and Dallas recently adopted spay/neuter legislation as a common-sense solution.

Will there be access to affordable spay / neuter services?
Several organizations already provide subsidized spay / neuter programs. In fact, Chicago is one of the nation’s leading cities in providing free or low-cost spay / neuter services.

This ordinance seems hard to enforce, and I’m not sure I want our limited police resources dedicated to doing so: why should I support it?
This ordinance will assist the police in going after unlicensed illegal dog breeders, dog fighters and other criminal elements. Additionally, spayed or neutered dogs cannot be used as weapons or in dogfighting, which is very common in Chicago.

Why do breeders oppose this ordinance, and why?
This ordinance respects the rights of responsible breeders – they are one of the exemptions provided for.

Millions of dollars of untaxed revenue is generated by “backyard breeders” who do not have licenses and often, do not breed in a humane or responsible manner. Without applicable laws, it is difficult to regulate this industry.

Currently in Chicago, there are no breeders licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture, the department that regulates dog and cat breeding for commerce.

Does this ordinance take into consideration the medical conditions of cats & dogs?
This ordinance respects the opinions of licensed Veterinarians. An exemption will be made if the Veterinarian determines that spay/neuter surgery will adversely effect the overall health of the cat or dog.