Illegal not to get pets spayed in California

A law requiring all dogs and cats in California to be spayed or neutered has raised the hackles of incredulous pet owners who say it as an outrageous attack on personal freedom that would prove both costly and unenforceable.

The bill, which has passed the state assembly and goes before the California senate next month, would make it an offence not to get most animals "fixed" before they reach four months.

The legislation is aimed at reducing the estimated 500,000 strays put down each year at a cost of around $300m and is supported by many animal shelters.

Dubbed the California Healthy Pets Act, (page has embedded audio), the measure would "establish California as a national leader in the humane care for animals, and will save the state's taxpayers millions of their hard-earned dollars," according to Judie Mancuso, campaign director of the California Healthy Pets Coalition.

"It is the best, most humane option of reducing the growing number of unwanted animals," she said.

But opponents say the law would effectively outlaw the existence of mongrel pets in California as only certain pedigree animals would be allowed to breed.