On any given day, 20 percent to 40 percent of all animals in shelters are purebred. Seventy percent of all animals in shelters are unaltered dogs. A mandatory spay/neuter law such as Assembly Bill 1634, the California Healthy Pets Act, would require breeders to obtain a business license and a breeder permit, thus requiring them to pay taxes. The only reason they are opposed to this law is because currently they are getting a free ride. They are able to breed as many animals as they want without any mitigating consequences.

Animal breeding is the only organized hobby where you can make a profit without paying any income tax or sales tax. Fifty percent of the animals from which breeders financially benefit end up in our shelters. Breeders reap all the benefits from this selfish behavior while we the taxpayers and the animals suffer the consequences.

We need a statewide mandatory spay/neuter law aimed at breeders who produce litters of puppies that eventually end up in our shelters and become the taxpayers' problem. In today's paper there were more than 160 ads for cats and dogs. About half of these animals will end up in our shelter within a year or two, placing the burden on the taxpayer.

Altered pets are less aggressive, and since they are not motivated by the urge to reproduce, they are less likely to roam and become a safety hazard to the public. The cost to the taxpayer for sheltering these animals will go down because the unwanted pet population will decline.

In California, we spent more than 250 million tax dollars last year to provide shelter to more than 840,000 unwanted animals, and more than half of those had to be destroyed at the taxpayers' expense. There just aren't enough homes. That money would be better spent on education.

Furthermore, the American Veterinary Medical Association, UC Davis and the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights have concluded that the spaying or neutering of an animal, before it has reached sexual maturity has no known ill side effects. Spaying a cat or dog can protect it against mammary cancer and uterine infections. Neutering reduces the risk of testicular cancer and enlargement of the prostate and related infections. Spaying and neutering is the best way to prevent pet overpopulation, the leading cause of death in our pets today.

How would AB 1634 be enforced? Several communities in California already have successful spay and neuter ordinances. Local animal control agencies would be responsible for enforcing the California Healthy Pets Act. A portion of the fines collected would be used to expand the availability of free or low-cost spay or neuter programs and other outreach efforts. In San Diego County, there are already numerous vets who offer anyone residing within the county low-cost spaying and neutering.

The actual citation will be like a "fix-it" ticket for an animal. If cited, animal owners will have an opportunity to get their animal altered and avoid a fine. The law provides for discretion and flexibility of permits and fees at each of the local counties.

- Oceanside resident Leslie Davies volunteers at the San Diego County Department of Animal Services' shelter on Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad.