Why do veterinarians oppose the ordinance?
The Chicago Veterinary Medical Association and the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association oppose the ordinance because spay/neuter is a medical decision that needs to be assessed and evaluated by a veterinarian for each individual animal. As individuals responsible for the interest and well-being of the animals in their care, a mandatory medical decision would hinder their ability to act in the best interest of the animal’s well-being. The ordinance would also cause pet owners to avoid regular visits to their veterinarian as a way to circumvent the spay/neuter mandate, preventing pets from receiving rabies and other vaccinations vital to animal and human health.
