Spay-and-Neuter Programs
Sex and violence is the problem and stray dogs are the perpetrators.
Lubbock’s recent rash of dog attacks is only part of the issue, the high number of strays and how to handle the overpopulation is the real problem.
Joe Wilbanks, the owner and director of The Animal Haven, said all 183 dogs he keeps at his shelter are strays and he said he believes the answer to Lubbock’s dog problems is a city wide program that would control dog reproduction.
“To me the secret to the whole thing is a spay-and-neuter program,” he said. “Because once they start having puppies that’s when the trouble starts.” 
According to the American Veterinarian Medical Association Web site intact males are responsible for approximately 75% of dog bites and intact females attract the males which increases the likelihood of being attacked by roaming dogs.
Spay and neutering is also commonly referred to as surgically altering and involves a veterinarian removing certain reproductive organs in a cat or dog. To spay is to remove a female animal’s fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus, to neuter is to remove a male animal’s testicles in order to keep them from being able to breed.
Cities with spay-and-neuter programs include Kansas City, Seattle and Dallas, which according to the Dallas City Hall Web site was the first city in Texas with this type of program, but Wilbanks said the program would require cooperation from more people than just the city government officials.
“The veterinarians could help with spay-and-neuter programs, because their prices have gotten really high,” Wilbanks said. “The city could sponsor a program but they would have to work with the vets.”
Last year Lubbock city council launched a program to help low-income families afford to spay-and-neuter their animals, but Wilbanks said the program failed because it’s a problem with all income classes even though he excludes Texas Tech University students.
“I don’t think Tech students are the biggest problem,” he said. “A lot of good students have adopted from us and we are pleased with how they have handled their dogs.”
Wilbanks said his solution requires the city to pass an ordinance which would offer free services for all animals and income classes. It would also require the city to immediately “fix” any dog picked up on the street.
Brian Miller, an employee at The Animal Haven, said he blames the overpopulation of dogs in Lubbock on lack of supervision by owners.
“When female dogs are in heat,” he said. “Male dogs will get out and try and breed.”
Miller said he thinks a spay-and-neuter program would help reduce this problem.
Fred Sanderson, Animal Service Manager, said the city of Lubbock typically handles 400 bite cases a year, and the majority of the bites are from pitbulls. He said some communities have issued breed bans on specific types of pitbulls.
A high number of dog attacks over the past month are a result of Lubbock’s stray problem. The Lubbock city ordinance states that it is the responsibility of every dog owner that has bitten a person to report the incident to Animal Services. Any person that does not contact animal services will be issued a citation.
Wilbanks said he blames dog attacks on an unloving Lubbock community.
“Some people find it so easy to abuse dogs,” he said. “Some time that works over on the dog, and it can make them mean.”