Houston mulls a spay/neuter law for pets

Looks like the city of Houston may follow in the steps of Los Angeles ... at least when it comes to a spay/neuter law for pets. The Houston Chronicle reports:

Don't look now, but the Houston City Council is starting to sound a lot like Bob Barker.

Goaded into action by community outrage after at least six dogs died from exposure to excessive heat in a city animal care vehicle last week, some council members have embraced the mantra of the retired game show host, who closed every broadcast of The Price is Right by urging viewers to "Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered."

Some, including Mayor Bill White, have floated the possibility of following in the footsteps of Los Angeles, which passed a law in February ordering its 3.8 million citizens to spay and neuter their pets or face repeated fines and criminal charges.

It is an open question whether such a law would be feasible in Houston when the city spends so much less than other areas on animal care and struggles to enforce ordinances dealing with pets already on the books, such as licensing requirements.