Denise Rosch reporting

Last year alone, 30,000 dogs and cats were put down. That's the latest figure out of local shelters forced to euthanize unwanted animals.

Now, the city of Las Vegas is considering a tough new law to help address the problem. This could mean a trip to the vet for you and your pet.

When it comes to her poodle Trapito, Cindy Chavez says it's all about love. And at Jaycee Park, he's hardly the only pampered pooch.

"I don't see him as an animal or dog. I see him as a person."

But Cindy admits that her little guy still needs "the" operation. At one and a half years old, Trapito has not yet been neutered.

"We're trying to get a really good doctor to get him fixed."

But now, there may be good reason to step up the search. Wednesday, the Las Vegas City Council introduced a proposed new ordinance that could affect the majority of pet owners within city limits, making it a misdemeanor to skip surgery.

Meaning, under certain circumstances, it would be a requirement for animals over four months old to be spayed or neutered.

Karen Layne is President of the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society. She says regulating the sterilization of dogs and cats just makes sense.

"Everybody thinks, especially in this economy, they're going to make a fast buck. And a lot of times they breed brothers and sisters. If you don't have clue what you're doing, you're not helping anybody at all."

Those with fancier permits or licensed breeders would be exempt; it's the backyard, uncontrolled breeding that would end.

Another thing to consider is the health of your pet: Vets will tell you un-neutered or un-spayed animals are more prone to certain types of cancer. And there's the aggression factor; those dogs are more likely to bite.

If approved, the new ordinance would mirror regulations adopted last year by the city of North Las Vegas. And Layne says cost shouldn't be a factor for most families.

"For the most part, they try to work with the people. In North Las Vegas, if the people couldn't afford it Heaven Can Wait is helping, we're helping them get their animals spayed and neutered."

Dog owner Tom Hutton understands the problem of pet overpopulation all too well after rescuing his dog Izzie from a shelter just six months ago.

"I believe, overall, it's good policy. There are too many animals running loose. It's very sad when you see the dogs that are not going to get adopted."

But they are numbers that could be cut if more owners took the time to simply spay and neuter their pets.

The proposed ordinance still has a few steps to go before it's approved. Fines could start at $250 for a first offense and $500 for a second offense.