JACKSON, Tenn. (AP) -- A newspaper's review of practices at county animal shelters in West Tennessee found that some shelters were not adhering to state regulations for spaying or neutering animals and the state has no oversight procedures to make sure counties follow the rules.

The Jackson Sun (http://bit.ly/U7i6KV ) checked several county and municipal shelters for their adherence to state law, which says shelters must spay or neuter animals before they are adopted or require an animal's new owner to do so.

The newspaper found several shelters that failed to comply with the law that requires them to charge owners refundable deposits for adopting unaltered animals that are designed to encourage spaying and neutering.

Animal activists say spaying and neutering prevents unwanted animals that have to be euthanized.