Additional information can also be found at www.petpac.net , www.saova.org, www.carpoc.org and www.cdoca.org
- 2009 -
CURRENT ACTIVITY AND CHANGES
OCTOBER 2009 - GOVErNOR VETOES AB241 - NAVA/HSUS BILL NOT SIGNED
On Sunday, October 12th Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed AB241 and issued this statement:
To the Members of the California State Assembly:
I am returning Assembly Bill 241 without my signature.
This measure would make it a crime for any person or entity to own or control more than 50 unsterilized adult dogs or cats for breeding or raising for sale as pets. I support measures designed to prevent animal cruelty and that punish persons engaged in the abuse of animals. However, this measure simply goes too far in an attempt to address the serious problem of puppy mills. An arbitrary cap on the number of animals any entity can possess throughout the state will not end unlawful, inhumane breeding practices. Instead this measure has the potential to criminalize the lawful activities of reputable breeders, pet stores, kennels, and charitable organizations engaged in raising service and assistance dogs.
For these reasons, I am unable to sign this bill. Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
AB 241 would have had a devastating effect on Canine Companions for Independence and Guide Dogs for the Blind. It would have made the most responsible breeders, the ones who stay on as co-owners for the life of all dogs they place so they can be responsible, criminals. And it established the age of an adult dog as 4 months. In many breeds they have not even gone home by that time.
We applaud the Governor's action.
SEPTEMBER 2009 - It is our understanding that Senator Florez has stalled SB250 which will most likely be brought up again early 2010. While we all take a deep breath, thank our Representatives for their Opposition support, we need to focus on the next steps on continuing our fight against this legislation. While SDBC tries to post updates on a regular basis, we recommend that you make frequent visits to the additional site listed above. These sites watch and post on nearly a daily basis and will be able to provide you with up-to-date information. Help us continue fighting this legislation. Tell your dog and cat owner friends what Senator Florez and the PEAT people are doing - legislating you as a pet owner.
JULY 2009 - Organizations and groups that are opposed to SB250 need to get their letters in as soon as possible. The title should say - Oppose - As amended. Information on where to send letters will be found on www.SB250.org or www.cdoca.org.
Please fax your letter. If you are concerned that your letter may again "go missing", you may fax a copy to CDOC at 818-332-9690. We will fed ex the letters up to the Committee a week prior to the date (July 7th). The hearing is scheduled for July 15th, at 9 am in Room 4202. If you are able to be in attendance that would be helpful. We need to be visible!
You also need to write individual letters to your representative on Appropriations. If you do not have one, pick a Democrat and have your friends in their district send letters. While letters from constituents are EXTREMELY (note emphasis) important, if you are able to fax each of the Appropriation Committee members as well that would be good. We need VOLUMES and VOLUMES of letters.
If the Summerfest Cluster will allow it, CDOC will have a table to help you get your individual letters off to legislators this Saturday and Sunday.
Here are some talking points for your letter:
1) SB 250 has been misrepresented as not being about spaying and neutering. However, the bill is characterized/listed as SB250; spaying and neutering of dogs and cats. And any time someone is required to spay/neuter their pet that requirement makes it a MANDATORY spay/neuter bill; whether it is policy or used as punishment. SB 250 IS A MANDATORY SPAY/NEUTER BILL
2) Mandatory spay/neuter has NOT worked anywhere, whether as punishment as in Santa Cruz county or as policy such in the City of Los Angeles or Lake County. Santa Cruz county has experienced far higher intakes and euthanasia than its surrounding communities without MSN. Lake County has the highest kill rate in the State. Los Angeles kill rate increased 30% since MSN was enacted. SB 250 KILLS ANIMALS.
3) SB 250 is a state mandate that will increase expenses statewide. Florez amended SB 250 so that all of the burden would fall on the local governments; however, when this tactic was attempted for the Hayden Act it was determined by the courts that the State would in fact need to reimburse locals, thus costing the state an estimated $25 million each year. The Department of Finance has come out opposed to SB 250 because it is extremely expensive. Whether the State pays for it or the local governments pay for it, it is still money taken from critical programs.
The California Department of Finance "...is opposed to this measure because it would increase costs..." Their analysis notes that: "Given the current economic climate, requiring the owners of dogs and cats to pay for sterilization procedures would result in more animals being abandoned or surrendered because of the owners' inability to finance the sterilization procedure and pay additional fines."
4) Currently, it is not illegal to own an intact dog or cat, but SB 250 would make it a crime to own, care for, or harbor an intact dog or allow an intact cat to be outside. IT WOULD BE A CRIME TO HAVE AN ANIMAL IN ITS NATURAL STATE. The only way to have an unaltered pet would be to get a license. However, that license will be always held over the owners with the threat of being denied or revoked for any violation related to the care and concern of animals. Increased fees, the threat of fines and revocation of licenses, and the label of being a criminal for having an intact pet are the future for pet owners.
5) Whether it is one strike or two strike, any denial or revocation of a license and the owner would be required to sterilize ALL intact animals owned, cared for, or harbored. This is a $5000 penalty for a 25 cent crime.
Organization and groups letters should be on letterhead. In the Appropriations Committee, there will be no listing of supporters or oppositions, but numbers matter as that will be recorded. And the committee consultant does review as many letters as possible in research for the official analysis. Contact information is at the end of this e-blast.
Permission to forward and cross post.
Laura Finco
CDOC Communications
CA SB 250 Amended, Set for Hearing – Opposition Needed!
California Senate Bill 250 has been amended and set for a hearing in the Senate Local Government Committee for April 15th. We need all California fanciers, responsible dog owners and breeders, and clubs to write and oppose this legislation. Letters must be received by April 8 to be reflected on the committee analysis.
SB 250’s primary intent is to penalize owners of intact animals and force sterilization of an at-large or unlicensed dog or cat on a first offense. This is an unreasonable standard as even a responsible owner can have a single incident where an animal is let out by a meter reader, neighbor or faulty gate.
As amended on April 2, 2009 SB 250:
- Allows an unaltered license to be revoked if one citation is issued for a dog being at-large or stray.
- Requires a person selling, trading, or placing for adoption an unaltered animal to post the license number if the animal is older than four months, or the age required by the local licensing agency. (The prior version of the bill required a licensing number for any sale of an unaltered animal, and it was unclear how this would affect the sale of puppies and kittens younger than four months who were not required to be license.)
- Requires any unlicensed intact animal that is impounded to be sterilized, even on a first offense.
- Adds a new definition of “custodian” as follows; “Custodian” means any person who undertakes the personal care and control of a dog or cat, or any person who intentionally provides care, security, or sustenance for a dog or cat on the person’s property for any period exceeding 30 days. “Custodian” does not include a licensing agency.”
Existing state law already requires owners of intact animals to pay a license fee that is at least double that to license a sterilized animal (Food and Agriculture Code Section 30804.5); and provides for enhanced and graduated fines for owners whose intact dogs are impounded (Food and Agriculture Code Section 30804.7). These statutes are sufficient to incentivize owners to sterilize their animals and to address animal control concerns with specific intact animals who are repeatedly impounded.
AKC believes that the term “custodian” is simply another word for “guardian.” The American Kennel Club supports the use of the term “owner” rather than “guardian” when referring to the keeping of dogs. The AKCbelieves that the term guardian may in fact reduce the legal status and value of dogs as property and thereby restrict the rights of owners, veterinarians, and government agencies to protect and care for dogs. It may also subject them to frivolous and expensive litigation. The term guardian does nothing to promote more responsible treatment of dogs. We strongly support efforts to educate the public about responsible dog ownership to ensure that all dogs receive the care, love and attention they deserve.
This legislation will not improve the lives of cats and dogs in California, will negatively impact responsible owners and breeders, and by placing additional burdens on owners of intact animals, ay lead to an increase of animals in shelters. Concentrating animal control efforts on dogs whose behavior demonstrates that they are a problem for the community would be a much better use of taxpayer funds.
What You Can Do:
- Attend the Senate Local Government Committee Hearing to Oppose SB 250
April 15th, 9:30am
State Capitol, Room 112
Sacramento, CA 95814
Senator Dean Florez (Author)
State Capitol, Room 313
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4016
Fax: (916) 327-5989
Senator Patricia Wiggins (Chair)
State Capitol, Room 4081
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4002
Fax (916) 323-6958
Senator Dave Cox (Vice Chair)
State Capitol, Room 2068
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4001
Fax: (916) 324-2680
Senator Sam Aanestad
State Capitol, Room 3063
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4004
Fax: (916) 445-7750
Senator Christine Kehoe
State Capitol, Room 5050
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4039
Fax: (916) 327-2188
Senator Lois Wolk
State Capitol, Room 4032
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4005
Fax: (916) 323-2304J
January - It is a sad day for dog and cat owners. Riverside County (California) votes in support of mandatory spay/neuter and micro chipping dogs and cats at age 4 months of age.
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2008-
November - Santa Barbara needs your help and support working against more animal legislation. Please go to www.cdoca.org for up to date information on the legislation and how you can help!
October/November - Vote NO on Prop 2. This proposition is supported by HSUS and AR activists, the same organizations trying to take rights away from animal owners. Please stay alert to continued efforts in your area to take rights away from animal owners. HSUS and AR are still hard at work to eliminate breeding of animals. Please continue to check the sites listed above for current activity and alerts.
MARCH - Please join the fight against Animal Rights extremists agenda.
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Read this document. Greatest Threat to Pet Ownership (Horses too!) - A Stategy to promote NO KILL solution.
Feb 2008 - Mandatory Spay and Neuter PASSED in Virginia - Mandatory Spay and Neuter PASSED in Los Angeles County!
www.petpac.net for current updates (12/2007) - message from Bill Hembly (petpac) below..... Today in Los Angeles, Assembly member Lloyd Levine, co-author Judie Mancuso and retired Price is Right host Bob Barker kicked off their campaign to re-launch California Assembly Bill AB 1634, the mandatory statewide spay/neuter law.
“Since the end of the legislative session, our coalition has been working…to strengthen Assembly Bill 1634", said Levine. “I am confident that with the work we’ve put in, 2008 is going to be a successful year for our bill.”
Read the Levine-Barker Press Release
We must unite once again to fight AB 1634. We stopped it last year and, with your help, we can defeat it again – once and for all. We need to raise the resources necessary to fight our opponents false claims and misrepresentations. Please make a contribution today.
Help pass the word that our opponents are once again trying to pass AB 1634.
Sincerely,
Bill Hemby Important Documents you need to read (below):
email- from the PRO side /Documents/AB1634-NewInfoFor2008.doc
PDF document of PRO-AB proposal /Documents/mandatorylaws10-2007newprop.pdf
(older references at the bottom of page)
For Huntington Beach
Go to www.petpac.net for more information on proposal. HBCC contact information http://petpac.net/r/1725/7736/
Huntington Beach- history: /Documents/Huntington Beach-orginal post92007.doc