Neutering Bill Ruffles Feathers

Legislation that would require Californians to "fix" their cats and dogs has captured the state's attention, inspiring more more controversy than any other measure this year, including an assisted-suicide bill. TV legend Bob Barker backs the spay/neuter bill, but groups like the American Kennel Club don't want the state involved, the LA Times reports.

The legislation aims to reduce the number of pets euthanized every year at taxpayer expense, which currently tops 450,000. And opponents have their own celebrity spokesman: the owner of the current Lassie. The assemblyman who introduced the bill says it's a matter of being humane: "We should not be killing 500,000 dogs and cats per year. That is a tragedy." (More pets stories.)