A reluctant Utah Senate advanced a bill that would require the state's largest cities and counties to neuter stray animals in their shelters.
At first glance, it would appear SB21, sponsored by Sen. Robert Steiner, D-Salt Lake City, would be a slam-dunk. But it advanced to the House on just a 17-10 vote Friday.The bill would require shelters in the state's nine largest cities and four largest counties to ensure strays are sterilized before they are sold or given away. Steiner said breeding animals or purebreds would be exempt, unless they were picked up as strays three times.
He said upward of 30,000 animals are euthanized in the state's shelters every year.
Sen. Alarik Myrin, R-Altamont, voted against the measure, which has raised concern among rural lawmakers.