SA to debate mandatory dog, cat desexing

A proposal to make dog and cat desexing mandatory in an effort to reduce euthanasia rates will be debated in the South Australian parliament.

It's one of a suite of proposals from last year's citizens' jury, including mandatory microchipping, the introduction of breeder registration to help stamp out puppy farms and increased penalties for dog attacks.

Environment Minister Ian Hunter said the legislation will be debated on Tuesday and if passed, would be the most sweeping changes to SA's animal welfare laws in more than two decades.

"The fact that 10,000 dogs and cats are being euthanised in SA every year is a cause of considerable distress to many of us and I look forward to a time when that number will be significantly reduced," Mr Hunter said.

Working dogs and breeding animals would be exempt from the changes.