Spay And Neuter Law Could Save Thousands Of Pets In Indiana

By Veronica Carter, Indiana News Service (Indianapolis, Ind.) - Indiana is one of the few states without a mandatory spay and neuter law for cats and dogs, and those pushing legislation to make it happen say it would save thousands of animals from being euthanized every year. The Indiana House has approved House Bill 1201, and it now heads to the Senate. At the Animal Protection Association in Jeffersonville, Faye Hinton rescues cats and dogs and puts them up for adoption, but not until they've been spayed or neutered.  She believes not only is the legislation needed - but more education also is needed, particularly in remote parts of the state. "In the mindset especially of people in rural areas, it's more likely they're like agriculture, you know - they're farm animals, and they don't see the need for it," said Hinton. A study by Indiana University finds 125,000 animals, mostly dogs and cats, are surrendered to shelters every year by the state, and 40 percent of them are euthanized.  Hinton says people who live in cities and suburbs have a different take on the issue than those who live in the country. "Because people take them out into the rural areas and just dump them. And these people that you find in the rural areas that have 20, 30, 40 animals - that's the main reason. They let them stay and then they multiple, and you know how fast they can multiply," Hinton stated. Those who oppose making spay-and-neuter laws mandatory say they don't work. The American Kennel Club says there's a lack of enforcement of the law, and that even the low-cost clinics are unaffordable for many people. Hintom is convinced if the animal population isn't controlled, many of them will suffer needlessly. She's so passionate about it that she says every animal she deals with has the surgery. "Other than spaying and neutering everything we get our hands on - even if we think it's a lost pet, we do it. If it comes into our shelter, it get spayed or neutered," said Hinton. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says in states where spay-and-neuter laws are mandatory, fewer animals have to be put down.