LAS VEGAS, NV - City of Las Vegas residents who don't spay or neuter their pets could face misdemeanor fines of up to one-thousand dollars, and six months in jail.

The Las Vegas City Council approved a new ordinance Tuesday aimed at reducing the number of unwanted pets. There is little argument that the valley has a pet population problem.  The Animal Foundation takes in about 50,000 animals each year.  Most are not spayed or neutered. But vets disagree with the requirement that pets be fixed at the age of four months.

J.C. Wilson at the Cheyenne-Tonopah Animal Hospital says; "If four months is safe, I'm fine with that. I prefer my patients to wait until six months, when they're a little more mature. They're still not going into heat at that age, and it's a safe procedure."

Also under the new rules, the owners of lost pets will have to pay for the surgery before their animals will be returned.

The new City of Las Vegas spay & neuter ordinance goes into effect April 1st.

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