Success Stories: Ending pet overpopulation

King County, Washington
When passed: 1992

What ordinance states: King County has one of the most comprehensive ordinances.  The main components addressing overpopulation state that all dogs and cats over the age of six months must be sterilized unless an unaltered license is purchase which costs $35.  All guardians who purchase an intact license receive a $25 spay/neuter voucher. It also requires annual reporting encompassing several aspects of animal control operations.

Enforcement: One reason this has been such a successful ordinance is because the animal control department took its enforcement seriously. They aggressively marketed licenses. The took their outreach to grocery stores and door-to-door canvassing. Many pet supply shops and vet clinics also became temporary sales outlets during the canvassing work.  Animal Control Director Dan Graves said that having the private groups involved further increased animal licensing visibility and accessibility. Additionally they have sent many direct mailings out since 1993 to 403,000 residents notifying them of the dates and times that canvassing will take place in their neighborhoods.

King County has carried out other programs directed at reducing the surplus animal population. They have worked with other neighboring shelters in setting up an animal adoption hotline. The celebrate Spay Day USA each year with a different promotional program such as offering coupons for free spay/neuter operations.

Effectiveness: The numbers speak for themselves. King County has seen dramatic increase in license sales. Additionally, they have had a 20% increase in redemption and a 65% increase in adoptions. Euthanasia have decreased by 52% and DOAs (dead animals on arrival) also decreased by 68%.

Animal Statistics
          Dog licenses sold       Cat licenses sold         Total sold
          unaltered sterilized   unaltered  sterilized
1990     11,286     31,593        1,764     11,540         57,254
1997      4,415      53,992          190     32,997        108,620

              Euthanized    Adopted    Redeemed    DOA
1990         13,765          1,525        1,775          3,784
1997           6,606          4,315        2,215          1,217
% change     -52%         +65%        +20%         -68%