The Senate Agriculture Committee of West Virginia, USA, is considering a bill that would create a pet spay and neuter fund by raising the permit fee on select petfood packages, according to a report.

Senate Bill 479 establishes a Spay Neuter Assistance Fund to subsidize spay and neuter programs throughout West Virginia, USA, in an effort to decrease the number of animals euthanized in West Virginia shelters, the bill says. The bill would raise petfood registration fees from US$50 to US$75 per product, allocating the $25 increase to the spay and neuter fund.

The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council opposes the bill, saying the cost of spay and neuter services should not be only the responsibility of petfood distributors and retailers.