L.A., Overwhelmed With Pets, to Sterilize 4,000 Free

Overwhelmed by the tens of thousands of dogs and cats roaming Los Angeles’ streets and alleys, many of which have to be put to death, the Animal Regulation Commission on Monday approved a proposal to sterilize 4,000 pets free.

The commission also endorsed the development of a proposal that reunites lost animals with their owners through coded microchips implanted behind dogs’ and cats’ ears.

“For the year ending June 30, we impounded 90,000 animals citywide--enough to fill the Los Angeles Coliseum,” said Robert Rush, general manager of the Animal Regulation Department. “We destroyed 58,737 of them, and that is a tragedy.”

The proposed “microprocessor system” could spare the lives of some of the animals destroyed each year in city animal shelters when their owners cannot be found, said Rush.

The sterilization program, set to begin Nov. 1, will target pets in Los Angeles’ northeast, South-Central, San Pedro and Eastside areas, which have the fewest numbers of spayed and neutered pets, Rush said.

Funded with $100,000 from the city’s Animal Sterilization Trust Fund, the program will reimburse private veterinarians up to $28 for each surgery. Participants will get vouchers from humane organizations, including the Volunteer Services to Animals and the Mercy Crusade.

“We expect some opposition to the plan,” said Commissioner Mimi Robins.” Some people think it isn’t macho to have a sterilized pet.”

Indeed, Lloyd Prudhomme, 41, who lives in a targeted South-Central Los Angeles neighborhood, said that while he is not against the program, he has no intention of having his dog, Duke, neutered.

“It takes a lot of spunk out of a dog,” Prudhomme said. “I’m just going to have to tell them there is no reason for me to do it.”

Veterinarians consider that a myth, and say that sterilizing does not damage a pet’s personality, only inhibits libido.

In fiscal year 1989-90, the department impounded 36,149 dogs; only 5,226 of them were redeemed by their owners. And of 36,226 cats impounded, only 300 were claimed.

“In physical numbers, sterilizing 4,000 pets won’t do much in a city this size,” acknowledged Dyer Huston, spokesman for the Animal Regulation Department.” The prime value of this program is that it will raise concerns about a serious problem.”

Animal regulation officials say the microchip identification system could save many pets and alleviate overcrowding in animal shelters by reuniting about 5,000 more dogs and cats a year with their owners.

Under the proposal, a microchip containing coded information about the pet owner, like name and address, would be permanently implanted behind an animal’s ear, where a scanner could read it. “Right now, 95% of the dogs and 100% of the cats we impound have no identification” of any kind, Rush said.

The microchip system is already in use for animals at zoos, including the Los Angeles Zoo, and could be implemented citywide by July, 1992, Rush said.