Calif. Senate rejects amended spay/neuter bill

Sacramento, Calif. — A watered-down version of a bill that originally would have required that almost every cat and dog older than 4 months be spayed or neutered was voted down in the California Senate by a 27-5 vote.

What was originally the California Healthy pet Act, AB 1634, was introduced in February 2007 by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine. The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) was a a co-sponsor. The amended version that cleared a Senate committee and was sent to the full Senate for final vote would would not have mandated sterilization; instead it called for stronger penalties, including increased fines. The CVMA took no position on the amended bill.