Question
My dog got out of my yard and the animal shelter neutered him without my permission. Is that legal?
Answer
Some municipalities have enacted laws which state that shelters may not release animals for adoption or to their “parents” unless the animals are spayed or neutered (with limited exceptions). Consult with your town/village office or an attorney in your area to get a copy of your local law. Local laws can sometimes be found online too. In any event, spaying and neutering help to reduce the overpopulation of dogs and cats which is caused, in part, when unaltered animals are not supervised. Spaying and neutering also provide health benefits to animals.
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Elinor will field as many questions as she can and they will be posted here on this site. Due to the volume of questions received, not all questions are answered. However, many individuals have similar questions. You may find helpful information in the categories listed below.