Shameful numbers of abandoned, abused, and feral cats and dogs end up visiting Alabama animal shelters each year.  For almost 7 of 10 of these animals their visit is a one way trip to death.  The practice of trapping feral cats and dogs, spay and neutering them, and then re-releasing them has emerged a scientifically supported humane way of reducing their problem behavior and numbers over time.     However this option is currently in jeopardy from a small number of wealthy veterinarians who, year-after-year, have used procedural and legal maneuvers to scuttle state legislation to formally protect the rights of other veterinarians to donate or offer their spay and neutering services to non-profit groups in the interest of treating these animals more humanely.  Four such clinics exist in Alabama for this purpose and it has been reported that veterinarians serving these clinics have conducted 80,000 sterilizations in the past four years.  Most veterinarians support these clinics and see them as a part of the solution.  But the small but powerful group of veterinarians hoping  to close them are concerned about the potential negative financial impact on their euthanasia and spay/neutering business at their large clinics, the possibility that a wealthy community members might abuse the system to have their companion animals spayed for free, and that groups dedicated to reducing the number of feral animals brought to shelters will begin doing broader veterinary care for companion animals.   New legislation will be submitted soon to allow these clinics to continue to help feral animals.  Most of our local politicians have  supported it, but not all.  One opponent claims he is powerless to take a stand because the issue is controversial.   We are a group of Tuscaloosa youth who believe that better information and a little  compromise can stop this nonsense.  Together with our college student mentors we started this petition to urge Alabama legislators to support state legislation to keep low cost or free spay and neutering available when a bill is introduced again next session. When you sign the petition below, all six Tuscaloosa legislators receive an email.    [This petition was written by concerned Tuscaloosa youth with their college student mentors. You can contact them on Facebook at On AllFours or at OnAllFoursProject@gmail.com].