Texas Pet Warning Notice Law
“CAPA’S LAW”
In Memory of my
Deceased Pet Capa

Note that this is not a mandatory spay to retain pet ownership suggestion.  Others can cover that question.  This is to make mandatory the dispensing of a very brief statement of warning by shelters and rescue groups about mammary cancer prevention.  Very little effort is involved and virtually zero cost!  Additionally this is no effort to break low income persons out of pet ownership by fines/costs they cannot cover!

1) Pets picked up by city animal control agencies more than one time and determined to not be spayed/neutered should result in owners, if wishing to maintain non-sterilized status, being required to pay an increased annual “pet tax” city fee of $25 to $35 more per annum than the usual discounted fee for complied spay-neuter status.  There should be no resistance on the part of municipalities to this proposal.  It would enhance their funding; pets would live longer resulting in more annual city fees; and more people would spay/neuter extending their pets lives.  Those choosing to not spay/neuter would be told the modestly increased fee goes to subsidize spay neuter cost for hardship residents.  Many cities already may have such a framework in place.  If lawmakers can adjust the suggestion in a positive manner, please do so.  The bar must not be set high to satisfy hardship status.

Addenda to #1--- Some cities (Dallas) already have near mandatory spay neuter ordinances and special exemptions with specific fees.  An attempt at state level was made some years ago to impose a $300 yearly fee for non-altered status.  As long as such fee can be maintained at $50 yearly or less, it shouldn’t be considered heavy handed.  My view only.  I am not suggesting the State should dictate to municipalities as to fee amounts; however, a discount of $5 to $15 per annum for spay-neuter positive is an ineffective prompt.  Exemptions will always be available to breeders and those involved in the dog show circuit.  Numbers #2 and #3 following are the backbone, heart and soul of what needs to be happening all across Texas!

2)  Official city animal control agency notices mailed to pet owners annually regarding rabies shot status and yearly “dog tax” should add a one sentence caution to pet owners to the effect of “Unspayed females are at increased risk of mammary cancer and uterine infections both of which may become fatal.”  Another line should be added urging pet owners to have pets examined once or twice yearly as veterinarians can catch early stage situations nonprofessionals would miss.  Add whatever wording is deemed appropriate concerning male dogs.  Naturally cats are included in the message which should so state.

3)  All Texas based pet rescue and adoption groups, non breed specific and breed specific and spay neuter specific organizations, especially if IRS recognized as 501c3 tax exempt status, must be required to state online in their websites that spay isn’t for overpopulation only, but to avoid cancer and infection hazards.  If they have printed literature as in adoption agreements or other literature, this warning notice must also be included there. 

4) All spay neuter organizations must mention spay for mammary cancer and uterine infection prevention and not overpopulation only.  This only necessitates a very few more words!  It will make more adopters comfortable about not being able to adopt a breedable pet; it will additionally serve to educate site visitors who may have a non-altered pet that their pet is at increased health hazard risk and prompt them to take action.  There is no excuse for not adding this TINY amount of additional effort to bring more uninformed pet owners into the information loop.  The cost of implementing this educational measure is in most cases, only a few minutes time of site maintenance!  The printed text necessary for this public educational measure is so small as to seldom require so much as even one additional page!

5)  Veterinary check up and vaccination notices, usually mailed annually, should feature a warning about cancer and infections in pets not altered.  See my letter of appeal in the main body of my email to you for cooperation to review positive evidence that veterinarians wouldn’t be against this.

6) Penalties for non-compliance.  Beyond the fact that noncompliance should invoke a guilty conscience, I leave this specific to the writers of the legislative bill.  I would however suggest if 501c3 groups refuse to warn the public via TRIFLING website addition about mammary cancer and uterine infections in unspayed pets, the Internal Revenue Service should be notified and review their tax exempt standing!  Please contact your national members of Congress with this mandatory provision for retention of tax exempt status for private pet rescue and adoption placement groups.  There is no excuse for concealing from the public what they have a right to know to make informed decision on their pets future, especially when it can be stated in 20 words or less! 

Again note there is no exercise in hair splitting going on because spay to prevent too many pets automatically covers spay for other good reasons---it’s about making EDUCATION AVAILABLE to any UNINFORMED site visitors who may have unspayed/neutered pets are aren’t aware of any cancer/infection RISKS!

Charles Savoie
Capa’s Canine
Mammary Cancer Project
After this initial burst of enthusiasm, BOBOSKY and all her “ha-ha” associates refused any further response!
What was it Lee Marvin said in “The Dirty Dozen” (1967)?  “I’m interested in results, not embroidery!”
It isn’t the good they’ve done, but what they won’t do, which is inexplicable!
It is NOT OK to let dogs die of mammary cancer when preventable via
a simple public educational campaign costing next to nothing!
Note this was sent in her official capacity as an official of an
IRS registered 501(c)4 group, whose activities are public!
Since my BITTER encounter with this SHAM group, I
discovered they stood AGAINST the Companion
Animal Protection Act which would give
better treatment to Texas pets!


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