There Oughta Be A Law… Or Should There?

Why do we like legislation?

What do laws do for us?

• Force people to do the “right” thing• Protect the public• Enhance our society• Preserve rights• Set boundaries• Allocate responsibilities• Manage resources

What makes “good” law?

When do Laws NOT Work?

• Unclear/convoluted • Unenforceable • Unfunded • Conflict with other

laws/requirements• Don’t actually solve

the problem• Outside the

individual’s control

What happens when bad laws are enacted?

• Don’t stop the behavior• Don’t fix the problem• Waste Precious Resources • Penalize someone already a victim of

circumstances• Divert focus away from real solutions

Effective Laws Are: Necessary Clear Enforceable Adequately Funded

Designed to Actually Solve the Problem

Beneficial to the Whole Community Within the Locus of Control of

Those Being Targeted

Testing “Responsible Pet Care” Laws Necessary Clear Effective Adequately Funded Solves the Problem Benefits the Community Within Locus of Control

• Mandatory S/N• Arbitrary Pet Limits• Breed Specific Anything• Cat Leash Laws • Mandatory surrender of strays

Better options

• Fix root problems• Community-based solutions • Increased access to services, care, information• More effective use of existing laws: – Animal control– TNR– Spay/neuter– Veterinary services– Dog training, cat behavior