IRVINE
City Council members voted 3 to 2 to adopt an ordinance putting into effect a new state law that encourages residents to neuter their pets.
The new law calls for dog and cat owners who have not sterilized their pets to be fined $35 or more when they reclaim their pet from the shelter. The fine increases to $50 for the second occurrence and to $100 for three or more offenses. Owners are already charged a $30 impound fee and $10-a-night board charge.
Irvine’s animal shelter took in 964 stray animals for fiscal year 1998-99 with the majority of those not spayed or neutered, said Eliza Rubenstein, program coordinator. Only 273 of those were reclaimed by owners, she added.
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