Blum, Nava Butt Heads Over Spay and Neuter Bill

Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum and Assemblymember Pedro Nava find themselves on opposite sides of a bill that would require pet owners to have their dogs and cats spayed or neutered or face fines of $500. Blum said she feared such steep fines might encourage pet owners not to register their animals and get the inoculations that accompany registration. But Nava, who cosponsored AB 1634, insists it will save 350,000 unwanted dogs and cats from being euthanized each year, and said the fines are waived if the offending pet owners get their animals fixed.