Our position on a citywide ordinance that requires the spaying and neutering of pets unless their owners are committed enough to pay for an exemption license is well known, but some of our friends feel differently. Let us make a final plea for the ordinance with some facts.

First, the Tribune-Herald editorial board opposes overregulation, but in this case we’re convinced of the need for action. Just last year 10,020 unwanted animals in our area wound up at the Waco Humane Society — not just the usual array of stray hybrids and cute mutts but purebreds dropped off by breeders who couldn’t sell them and didn’t know what else to do with them. (Humane Society official Sandy Wittliff tells us that up to half are purebreds.) Only 495 of the 10,020 wound up back with their owners. Some 6,300 were euthanized.

This is unacceptable.

We also believe in supporting local law enforcement, which means passing ordinances bolstering their duties. Among those duties: the daily grind of picking up stray animals. Waco Police Chief Brent Stroman says uncontrolled breeding remains the root of this nagging problem.

For years we’ve pleaded for responsibility by all owners, including breeders. Some cheerfully abide, others do not.

Solution: Require owners of dogs and cats to spay or neuter them, helping our community to be increasingly free of unwanted animals, including those that can prove ill-tempered.

Studies indicate that fixed animals are often calmer in temperament and at less risk for disease. That’s well worth considering. After all, more than 460 people were bitten by dog in the Waco area last year. So far this year, 272 have been bitten. Not good.

We know that some local breeders are upset by the ordinance approved 6-0 by the Waco City Council this week (on first reading) mandating spaying or neutering, but we remind them that they would have the annual option of securing a license to be exempted. (The matter of a specific fee has been deferred.) And there would be an animal review board to hear appeals. Plus automatic exemptions for some animals would be offered.

Some breeders say that irresponsible owners will thumb their noses at any city fee unless their animals are caught loose. They predict failure.

We’re not deaf to this criticism. Maybe this ordinance won’t help. But in the end city leaders owe it to the police and all of us to do something, even if it just puts a good-sized dent in a festering problem in Central Texas. Doing nothing is not an answer.

We urge the council to approve this ordinance on second reading, then revisit the results a few years down the road to see if it is making a difference. We sure hope it does.