Mandatory Spay and Neuter in Wilkes County, NC

Wilkes County NC has a massive cat problem. In 2018, our shelter killed 1993 cats - 83% of the total intake. Less than 16% were adopted with the others being returned to owners. By contrast only 767 dogs - 40% were killed. 48% were adopted out. Many areas have passed laws making it mandatory to spay or neuter animals. We need to do the same. Make it mandatory that the caretaker of any animal over 6 months be spayed or neutered. Allow a case by case exemption, requiring a vet certification, in cases where an animal may be too old, sick or injured to risk surgery. In the case of a sick or injured animal, make it a temporary waiver unless the vet certification states the animal has a condition that will not improve to the point where surgery is safe. Make it a civil fine that does not require impounding the animal. If someone wants to breed, make them get a breeder's license each year like any other business and add a fee per animal and require the breeding animals be listed on the paperwork. For anyone who doesn't follow the law, or is an unlicensed breeder, make the fine a civil fine. All money raised from the civil fines could be used to start a TNR fund for community cats and to start a barn cat program. Both of these programs would also reduce the number of cats killed. And finally, allow approved volunteers to photograph the cats in the holding area in order to run a page on Facebook dedicated to the owners of cats brought in as strays and networking the others to find rescue.