Published May 5th, 2026
BY CHOICE MUIVAH
After two years of advocating for animal welfare, CHS’ Pets Are Worth Saving club, or PAWS, will have a hearing May 12, represented by District 1 Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo, to vote on an ordinance that requires the spay and neutering of pets in Monterey County.
“It’s so inspiring to see the leadership from young people, stepping up to help animals with compassion,” says Lora James, a volunteer at Spay Neuter Imperative Project or SNIP, a nonprofit of 10 years that works closely with PAWS to raise awareness and money for shelters, helping make it more affordable to fix pets.
Founded by CHS juniors Matt and Eli David, PAWS consistently works with SNIP and has spoken at city council meetings for the past two years to advocate for their cause. They now plan to go speak before the County of Monterey Board of Supervisors with the organization to show the committee the support they have garnered from the community and youth to pass their ordinance.
“I am very passionate and excited about this opportunity,” says Matt. “It’s great, the fact that not only are Carmel High students making a huge difference, but we’re also getting together and saving these animals’ lives.”
Eli and Matt David (from left) have two cats, and found Hannah (left) as a kitten six years ago, malnourished and the only one from her litter that survived. photo by ELI DAVID
Hoping to have the same success they had in Seaside, which saw a huge drop in euthanization after the ordinance was passed, the ordinance aims to stop the issue of overpopulation at its root. By spaying and neutering pets, it plans to prevent the backyard breeding that causes shelters to overflow and forces them to euthanize or turn away animals.
“The reason why this animal overpopulation problem is so bad is because a lot of them have such terrible quality lives,” says Eli. “A lot of them starve on the streets or get hit by cars, but the majority of them just get euthanized.”
If the ordinance is passed, owners will still be able to apply for exceptions such as those with a breeder license or animals with medical issues, and it plans to require neutering through a fix-it ticket that will serve as a warning which could result in a fine if not heeded.
It was over the summer at the Monterey County Young Supervisors Program where the David twins became junior supervisors and brought the overpopulation issue as well as the youth’s initiative to take action to Supervisor Alejo’s attention.
“It’s one thing to be a junior supervisor, but how they chose to take initiative to bring something to the table is a whole different story,” says Lisa Sears, a volunteer at SNIP who works closely with the David twins. “It’s wonderful that they chose to do that and wanted to do what they could regardless.”
