Almost everyone who lives in Westwood knows it’s a problem. We see it when we walk back from campus at night and a cat runs past us out of the corner of our eye. There is no denying it: Los Angeles has a problem with animal overpopulation.
However, despite this major problem, the city of Los Angeles is being forced to cut a program that deals with it so the city can save $150,000.
Only months ago, the city passed a law that required all pets to be spayed or neutered at four months old. Because the procedures are costly, the city offered coupons that made the procedures free in light of the fact that they were mandated. However, the city has now discontinued these coupons despite the law still requiring pet owners to have their pets receive such operations.
Some animal workers have estimated that almost all people who got pets from the pound utilized the coupons that were given out. Furthermore, according to records, 65 percent of all coupons handed out to anyone were used by pet owners. Indeed, the coupons were needed by families that have been hard-hit by the economy. Also, the coupons were vital to cat activists who looked to combat the feral cat population problem by trapping cats, getting them neutered and then releasing them humanely.
In essence, the city has again decided to end a much needed and pragmatic program. Unfortunately, the budget crisis cannot be solved by ending successful programs that cost little.
Unsigned editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily Bruin Editorial Board.