You asked if (1) Delaware considered any possible negative effects of a $ 3 surcharge on rabies shots, which is used to help fund its low-income spay and neuter program, and (2) Vermont and Maine have programs that address problems with roaming cats and provide financial assistance for low-income pet owners to spay or neuter their pets.

SUMMARY

Delaware's legislature did not discuss any potential negative effects of a $ 3 surcharge on rabies shots (e. g. , the possibility that less people would have their pets receive the shot because of the increased cost) in either chamber, according Delaware's House Clerk. There was also no such discussion in committee, according to Representative Pamela J. Thornburg, chair of Delaware's House Agriculture Committee (where the bill, HB 425, was raised).

Both Vermont and Maine (1) have programs to reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs (e. g. , roaming cats) and (2) provide financial assistance to certain low- and moderate-income pet owners to spay or neuter their pets.

DELAWARE COMMITTEE FINDINGS

We found no official committee or session transcripts for Delaware's HB 425, which became its low-income spay and neuter law. But, according to a June 7, 2006 Agriculture Committee report, the committee did discuss program funding. The report states that the $ 3 surcharge on rabies vaccinations was established to offset program costs. The Delaware Veterinary Association estimated 100,000 rabies vaccines are administered annually. There was no mention of potential problems with the surcharge. The entire committee report is available at the legislature's website.

The bill passed both chambers unanimously. More information on Delaware's Law is available in OLR Report 2006-R-0509.

MAINE'S LOW-INCOME SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM

Maine's low-income spay and neuter program for cats and dogs aims to reduce the number of stray and unwanted animals in the state (and thus the number euthanized).

Eligibility

Maine residents aged 18 and older are eligible, if they receive aid under one of the following government programs:

1. Food Stamps,

2. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,

3. Supplemental Security Income,

4. Social Security Disability, or

5. Maine Care (Medicare).

The program allows the Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources commissioner to determine if other public assistance programs qualify pet owners to receive assistance (i. e. , if they meet the program's low-income objective).

Additionally, the low-income individual participating must be the owner or keeper of the cat or dog being spayed or neutered. He must also make a $ 10 co-payment for a cat or $ 20 co-payment for a dog. A participating veterinarian must complete the procedure.

Funding

The law establishes a Companion Animal Sterilization fund for the program and provides funding from various sources, including a (1) $ 25 surcharge that breeder's must charge people who purchase un-spayed or un-neutered cats and dogs and (2) voluntary check off for taxpayers filing their returns (7 M. R. S. A. § 3910B).

VERMONT'S LOW-INCOME SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM

Vermont's reduced-cost spaying and neutering program aims to decrease the number of stray and unwanted animals euthanized and otherwise killed in the state.   The law required the Agriculture, Food and Markets Agency to adopt rules and implement the program.

Eligibility

Under the rules the agency adopted, state residents who own a cat, dog, or wolf-hybrid are eligible if they participate in or are eligible to participate in one of the following public assistance programs:

1. Aid to Needy Families with Children,

2. Food Stamp Program,

3. Women, Infants and Children Program,

4. Reach Up – Education and Job Training,

5. General Assistance/Relief,

6. Financial Support for Spouses/Caregiver (AABD/EP),

7. Medicaid/Medicare,

8. Fuel Assistance – Heating Costs,

9. Section 8 – Rental Assistance,

10. Social Security (more than 50% of income), or

11. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

A copy of the entire set of rules is available at the agency's website.

Funding

The Dog, Cat, and Wolf-hybrid Spaying and Neutering program, as it is called, provides funding from a variety of sources for low-income pet owners to spay or neuter their pets.

Revenue comes from:

1. a $ 2. 00 surcharge on the required license for dogs and wolf-hybrids (the license fee is otherwise $ 4 for a neutered animal and $ 8 for an un-neutered one),

2. gifts from private donors, and

3. any appropriation that the legislature makes and any interest the fund earns.

Under the law, program funds reimburse participating veterinarians who voluntarily spay or neuter dogs, cats, and wolf-hybrids. (The statute does not provide the cost of the procedure or the amount low-income pet owners pay) (VT. Stat. Ann. Tit. 20 § 3814 et seq. ).

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