CALIFORNIA; mandatory spay/neuter bill - AGAIN!!!!

[Liz ODell]

Just introduced; SB250, another mandatory spa/neuter bill, we just defeated AB1634 and we can do it again. Please all of you educate yourselves on this bill and start getting the word out!
I am also expecting that all you hunters that come and use our state will OF COURSE help us out...RIGHT!? Go to http://www.petpac.net to help out.

(the following taken from AKC's website)
California Senate Bill 250 Penalizes Owners of Intact Animals
Print This Article
[Thursday, February 26, 2009]
California State Senator Dean Florez has introduced Senate Bill 250, a measure that purports to reduce shelter populations, but would in reality make it easier to revoke licenses for intact dogs and cats in California. This legislation will not improve the lives of cats and dogs, will negatively impact responsible owners and breeders, and by placing additional burdens on owners of intact animals, may lead to an increase of animals in shelters.

SB 250 is unnecessary. Existing state law requires that the fee for licensing an intact animal be double that for a sterilized animal. In many cases these fees already exceed $100, making it cost prohibitive for responsible owners to license their animals. If lawmakers wish to increase compliance with local licensing laws, fees need to be reasonable, especially during challenging economic times. State law already provides for enhanced and graduated fines for owners whose intact dogs are impounded. Local governments already have the authority and tools to effectively address problems with owners whose animals are repeatedly at large.

Several of the provisions in Senate Bill 250 are unreasonable. For example, Section 1 (g) requires anyone who sells an intact animal to post the animal’s license number. However, most jurisdictions do not require or provide for licensing an animal under the age of four months and most puppies and kittens are sold before they reach that age.

Further, Section (c) (2) can force owners to sterilize their pets on the basis of two complaints "verified by the department" that a dog has run at large. It is unclear what that language actually compels a department to do to verify the complaint. Any threshold should be based solely on impoundments or issued citations.

Section (c) (3) allows an intact dog license to be revoked for any violation of state or local laws relating to the care and control of animals. Section (i) (1) includes another laundry list of violations for which a dog must be sterilized. Under Section (j) it is unclear whether owners who have a current intact license would be forced to spay/neuter their pet after a single impoundment.

With the confusion of overlapping jurisdictions and a high number of people being forced to move due to foreclosures, it is easy to see how an owner could overlook pet licensure. Instead of encouraging these people to come in to compliance, SB 250 penalizes them by requiring sterilization, even for a single offense. In addition, many jurisdictions within California already have extreme laws limiting the number of animals that residents may own, and as a result, some owners are unable to license all their animals for fear of being forced to choose between beloved pets or having to place their pets in shelters.

Finally, the term "custodian" is used in the bill, but is not defined in the legislation or within the existing Food and Agriculture Code. This term 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 AKC believes 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.

The American Kennel Club strongly supports and promotes responsible pet ownership. However, SB 250 unreasonably punishes owners who choose to maintain intact animals and does not address the fundamental reasons that animals are surrendered, or assist those pet owners who are losing their homes and jobs. This measure will only increase the burdens on animal control departments in California.

What You Can Do:

Please contact your State Senator and ask him or her to oppose SB 250. To find out who represents you in the State Senate, please click here.

[Liz ODell]

Anyone in So Cal that can attend should really think about going to these...

Please forward to anyone you know in the L.A. area. Sprouse did one of these in Sacramento during the AB1634 fight and it was a great information source and organizing tool.

Forwarded message:

Dog Owners¢ Rights Under Attack! Learn How to Fight Back!

Sarah Sprouse, Manager of AKC¢s Canine Legislation Department and
former California State Assembly Employee Presents

Legislative Empowerment Seminars

Topics covered will be:
Proposed California State Laws
Local Mandatory Spay/Neuter Ordinances
Breeding Restrictions and Breed Specific Legislation

Two Locations!

Carlsbad, CA (Claim Jumper)
Thursday, March 26th
7 pm (doors open at 6:30) 5958 Avenida Encinas
Carlsbad, CA
(760) 431-0889


Los Angeles, CA
Monday, March 30th
7 pm
7701 Haskell Ave,
Van Nuys, CA

To ensure your space, please RSVP to doglaw@akc.org or 919-816-3720

This seminar will provide the necessary tools and strategies to enable the purebred dog community
to favorably impact the outcomes of pending local and state
canine legislation initiatives. Join us and learn how you can help protect your
rights as a responsible dog owner

[Liz ODell]

Forwarding is appreciated

ACTION IS NEEDED NOW- from all California pet lovers.

California is considering yet another mandatory spay and neuter law. SB 250
mandates sterilization of most dogs and cats in California. By creating new
crimes and imposing new duties on local animal control agencies, this bill
would impose a state-mandated local program upon local governments.

CURRENT STATUS: Action is needed IMMEDIATELY. The bill has been introduced
and has been assigned to the California Senate Local Government Committee.
Organizational letters (clubs, rescue, etc) and individual letters to
committee members are needed ASAP.

WHAT THIS LEGISLATION WILL MEAN TO YOU: SB 250 provides that no person may
own, keep, or harbor an unaltered dog except as specified. It would make it
unlawful for any person who owns, keeps, or harbors any unspayed or
unaltered cat 6 months of age or older to allow or permit that cat to remain
outdoors. It would require an owner or "custodian" of an unaltered cat to
have the animal spayed or neutered, or provide a certificate of sterility.
It would allow an unaltered dog license to be denied or revoked for a
variety of reasons.

This bill would require anyone who offers any unaltered dog or cat for sale,
trade, or adoption to meet specified requirements and report the sale within
10 days. It would require, if an unaltered dog or cat is impounded
pursuant to state or local law, the owner or custodian to meet specified
requirements, including paying the costs of impoundment. Requires
sterilization if a pet is impounded for any reason.

Contact information for the California Senate Local Government Committee and
examples of discussion points in opposition follow. Please write or fax
TODAY.

George Eigenhauser
CFA Legislative Coordinator

***************************************

SUGGESTED ARGUMENTS AGAINST THIS LEGISLATION (SB 250):

** This is a costly unfunded mandate on local governments. Local
governments already have the authority to adopt ordinances to deal with
irresponsible pet owners. State action on this matter is unnecessary.

** Experience has shown that mandatory spay and neuter ordinances are costly
to administer and ineffective. Analysis of a similar measure last year (AB
1634) by the California Department of Finance showed animal control costs
are likely to rise, euthanasia rates increase, and pet licensing drop off.
Money will have to be taken from other vital local services.

** Studies show that education has worked and 87% to 95% of owned cats are
now sterilized. Approximately 75% of dogs are sterilized. To further
increase the numbers of owned cats or dogs sterilized it is necessary to
provide low cost or free spay/neuter accessible year round. This bill would
do nothing to solve the real problem.

** This bill imposes punishment for impounds of cats or dogs by mandating
sterilization of pets before release. On top of other expense to reclaim
lost pets this will mean more cats will be left in the shelters.

** There are many reasons why a cat could be impounded by animal services
such as fire, earthquake or other disasters. Cats can get loose from a
carrier going to the veterinarian, escape from a hotel room or be
inadvertently let outside by a careless cat sitter. A cat could end up in a
shelter without reflecting owner irresponsibility. This provision means
confiscating the reproductive value of a show/breeding cat.

** Complaints from disgruntled neighbors, or any person who wants to harass
someone with an intact dog would be encouraged by this bill.

** This is a bad bill, quickly pulled together without regard for existing
laws or of the practical consequences. For example, it requires anyone who
sells an intact animal to post the animal's license number. But most local
jurisdictions do not license cats. Most local jurisdictions do not provide
for licensing an animal under the age of four months but most puppies and
kittens are sold before they reach that age.

** This legislation will not improve the lives of cats and dogs but will
negatively impact responsible owners and breeders, and by placing additional
burdens on owners of intact animals. This will lead to an increase of
animals in shelters.

** Use of the term "custodian" in the bill, rather than being limited to pet
owners, suggests this law would be used to unfairly target feral cat
caretakers and other individuals feeding or caring for free-roaming cats.
It punishes the people trying to help these unfortunate animals. Kindness
becomes a crime.

** If a person is caring for a few freeroaming/feral cats and has not been
able to trap some of them for spay/neuter they could be cited and subject to
a civil penalty if over a local limit law, when ownership of these cats is
not clearly defined.

** The word "custodian" does not change attitudes of those who don't care
properly for their animals. Inserting this term in laws actually weakens the
accountability of owners for animal abuse. The important factor in reducing
the reproduction of unowned/free-roaming cats is the point when a person
declares "I own this cat" because this leads to their taking responsibility.
The use of inappropriate terms, such as "custodian", dilutes this message
and lowers the status of cats in society since owners have responsibilities;
"custodian" has no meaning.

ACTION TO TAKE:

ORGANIZATIONS (clubs, rescue groups, etc.) send your faxes NOW to be
received by the Committee Consultant, Peter Detwiler to be included in the
Bill Analysis OPPOSE list.

**Send your letters on Organization or Club letterhead.
**Reference the title - " Re: OPPOSE SB 250

Dogs and cats: spaying and
neutering

INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS: Send letters, faxes and emails to all five
Committee Members ASAP. Again, please note in your title/subject line that
you OPPOSE SB 250. Please conclude with again noting you OPPOSE SB 250.

IF YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THE FIVE SENATE DISTRICTS OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
PLEASE TRY TO VISIT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE OR THEIR AID. DISTRICT OFFICES ARE
ALSO INCLUDED BELOW.

PLANNED MEETINGS (if any): The date the committee will take up SB 250 is
unknown at this time. Please act promptly.

CONTACT LIST: Contact information for the Senate Local Government committee
is as follows:

Senate Local Government Committee
ATTN: Peter Detwiler, Consultant
State Capitol Room 5046
Sacramento, CA 95814
FAX - 916-322-0298

Senate Local Government Committee Members:

SENATOR PATRICA WIGGINS (Chair)
State Capitol, Room 4081
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4002
Fax (916) 323-6958
Senator.Wiggins@senate.ca.gov

District Office (Eureka)
710 E Street, #150
Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 445-6508
Fax: (707) 445-6511

District Office (Napa)
1040 Main St., #205
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 224-1990
Fax: (707) 224-1992

District Office (Santa Rosa)
50 D St., #120A
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Phone: (707) 576-2771
Fax: (707) 576-2773

District Office (Ukiah)
200 South School Street
P.O. Box 785
Ukiah, CA 95482
Phone: (707) 468-8914
Fax: (707) 468-8931

District Office (Vallejo)
444 Georgia Street
Vallejo, CA 94590
Phone: (707) 648-5312
Fax: (707) 648-5383

#####

SENATOR DAVE COX (Vice Chair)
State Capitol, Room 2068
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4001
Fax: (916) 324-2680
Senator.Cox@senate.ca.gov

Jackson District Office
33C Broadway
Jackson, CA 95642
Phone: (209) 223-9140

Roseville District Office
2140 Professional Drive, #140
Roseville, CA 95661
Phone: (916) 783-8232
Fax: (916) 783-5487

Quincy District Office
2094 E. Main Street
Quincy, CA 95971
Phone: (530) 283-3437
Fax: (530) 283-3439

#####

SENATOR SAM AANESTAD
State Capitol, Room 3063
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4004
Fax: (916) 445-7750
Senator.Aanestad@senate.ca.gov

Nevada City Office
200 Providence Mine, #108
Nevada City, CA 95959
Phone: (530) 470-1846

Satellite Offices
Chico: 530-895-6088
Colusa: 530-458-4161
Redding: 530-225-3142

#####

SENATOR CHRISTINE KEHOE
State Capitol, Room 5050
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4039
Fax: (916) 327-2188
Senator.Kehoe@senate.ca.gov

San Diego Office
2445 Fifth Ave., Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 645-3133
Fax: (619) 645-3144

#####

SENATOR LOIS WOLK
State Capitol, Room 4032
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4005
Fax: (916) 323-2304
Senator.Wolk@senate.ca.gov

Vacaville Office
555 Mason Street, Suite 230

Vacaville, CA 95688
Stockton District Office
Phone: (707) 454-3808
Fax: (707) 454-3811

Stockton District Office
31 E. Channel Street, Room 440
Stockton, CA 95202
Phone: (209) 948-7930
Fax: (209) 948-7993

[Liz ODell]

INFO for all faxes and letters and calls>>>>

CA Senate districts 1, 2, 4, 5 & 39 please work committee

District Last Name First Name Term Year Elected Party Sacramento, ZIP 94248-0001 916-651- 916-
District

Address Phone FAX Email Address City ZIP Phone FAX Cities in district
1 Cox Dave 2 2008 R State Capitol, Room 2068 4001 324-2680 on web page 2140 Professional Dr., #140 Roseville 95661 916-783-8232 916-783-5487 South Lake Tahoe, East Sacramento, Placerville, Mammoth Lakes, Truckee, El Dorado, Portola
2 Wiggins Patricia 1 2006 D State Capitol, Room 4081 4002 323-6958 on web page 1040 Main St., #205 Napa 94559 707-224-1990 707-224-1992 Napa, Eureka, Santa Rosa, Clearlake
4 Aanestad Sam 2 2006 R State Capitol, Room 3063 4004 4457750 on web page 200 Providence Mine, #108 Nevada City 95959 530-470-1846 n/a Crescent City, Yreka, Redding/Shasta lake, Red Bluff, Chico, Oroville, Yuba City, Nevada City
5 Wolk Lois 1 2008 D State Capitol, Room 4032 4005 323-2304 on web page 555 Mason St., Ste. 230 Vacaville 95688 707-454-3808 707-454-3811 Vacaville, Davis, Fairfield, West Sacramento, Stockton, Isleton, Lathrop, Tracy, Valenca
39 Kehoe Christine 2 2008 D State Capitol, Room 3081 4039 327-2188 on web page 2445 5th Ave., Ste. 200 San Diego 92101 619-645-3133 619-645-3144 Del Mar, San Diego, Lemon Grove, Casa-de-Oro- Mo, La Presa, Spring Valley

[Liz ODell]

PEOPLE WE ARE LOSING TO THE ANIMAL RIGHTS FOLKS! THE SENATORS ARE GETTING MORE LETTERS AND PHONE CALLS IN SUPPORT THE BILL THAN AGAINST IT! I must assume everyones either retarded, phone lines are down, fingers are broken, tongues cut out or you just don't give a shit if you can't own an unspayed/unneutered dog or cat in California any longer.

The phone numbers, emails and fax number have been listed in this thread
If you can get on here to look at pictures I'm sure you know how to use email and all our other modern conveniences......

[Plott Proud]

Sometimes I as well as you probably do too Liz, Like we're talking to the wind!

John the Baptist had the same experience!

Folks if you don't STOP TALKING and START DOING SOMETHING, LIKE CALLING &FAXING THESE MEMBERS IT'S GOING TO BE UGLY AROUND HERE!!!!

How about allof you who have been talking bad about CHC and tlaking about being DOING SOMETHING, ARE YOU GONNA BE IN SACRAMENTO???????

You'd better be or don't even bother talking about anything again! PUT YOUR GAS MONEY AND IF NECESSARY, YOUR DAY OFF WORK IN ORDER TO KEEP YOUR INTACT DOGS WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!!

SEE YOU THERE!
Irv