TULSA— It is illegal in the city to own that is not spayed or neutered. According to a city ordinance passed in 1989, all dogs or cats older than 6 months must be sterilized. Owners who violate the law face a $75 ticket.
Animal control officers write hundreds of tickets every year for violating the city's pet sterilization law.
Animal advocates say the inside of Tulsa Animal Welfare is what over breeding looks and sounds like. Each year the city takes in more than 10,000 unwanted pets. Thousands of those animals are euthanized every year. The law's intent is to help reduce the number of pets brought to the city's shelter.
"It's a back ended way of saying you will not breed in Tulsa. There is no such thing as a breeder’s license,” said Jean Lechter, Manager at Tulsa Animal Welfare.
The law essentially bans breeding in Tulsa. It's been in effect since 1989.
According to the group Oklahoma Animal Alliance, in 2013 Animal Control officers issued 471 spay/neuter citations.
In 2014 it was 167 citations.
So far this year, officers issued 106 tickets.
The city collected $14,792 in 2013. That dropped to $4,178 in 2014. In 2015, the spay/neuter ordinance violations totaled $7,500.
"That is a positive sign we are seeing fewer of the animals that come in, especially ones that are re-claimed, that are not sterilized," Lechter said.
But pet advocates insist not enough is being done to address the problem.
One organization working to address the issue is Spay Oklahoma which provides pet sterilization surgeries to low-income pet owners.
"There's an enforcement issue it doesn't help to have a law when there's not anyone enforcing it, " said Ashley Villines, SPAY OK Operations Manager.
At Spay Oklahoma’s two locations, they perform up to 15,000 sterilization surgeries each year for low income clients.
"We have lots of people that come in here daily that say I didn't even know this was a thing and I’m getting this citation," Villines said.
According to Animal Control, there are 4 exceptions to the sterilization law.
1) If the animal is a “show” animal- must show proof the animal has performed in AKC competitions.
2) If the dog competes in agility competitions, must show proof of participation.
3) If the dog is used for hunting. Owner must have hunting license and the dog must be the type commonly used for hunting.
4) If you are fostering the pet for a recognized local or national rescue and you are housing the pet temporarily (up to 90 days) while actively searching for a permanent home for the pet.
Animal advocates say not enough is being done to increase spay and neuter awareness.
"It's such a complex issue that no single program or organization can solve it," said Dana Gray with the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals.
Gray and others with the alliance are finalizing a plan to present to city leaders, hoping they'll help address the problem.
"Tulsa and the rest of the state have a severe animal overpopulation crisis that is costing taxpayers literally millions of dollars a year," Gray said.
Oklahoma Animal Alliancemembers say they’ve reached out to city leaders several times since last month asking to meet and discuss solutions. They say they’ve had no response to their requests to discuss the group’s comprehensive plan.
According to the city’s website, the fine for having an un-sterilized pet over 6 months old in Tulsa is $75.
The city collected $14,792 in 2013. That dropped to $4,178 in 2014. In 2015, the spay/neuter ordinance violations totaled $7,500.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
