Fwd: PRESS RELEASE: Assembly passes California Healthy Pets Act

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Good news...

 

Melissa ---------- Forwarded message ----------Judie Mancuso <judie

Jun 8, 2007 12:28 PMPRESS RELEASE: Assembly passes California Healthy Pets ActjudieDear AB 1634 Supporters:

Please post on any blogs or websites you may have. Sorry I didn't sendsooner. The final vote was 41-38.Thanks, Judie_____FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 6, 2007

CONTACT: Julie Wong, (323) 254-5700ASSEMBLY PASSES CALIFORNIA HEALTHY PETS ACTUniversal spaying and neutering of dogs and catswill save taxpayers millionsIn a victory for California taxpayers and animal advocates, the California

State Assembly today passed the California Healthy Pets Act (AB 1634). Thisbill, authored by Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (D - Van Nuys) would help keeppets healthy, make communities safer, and save taxpayers millions by

requiring most pets to be spayed or neutered.Every year, more than 800,000 pets are abandoned in California. Californiataxpayers spend $250 million to house these abandoned cats and dogs inshelters and then euthanize the majority of them.

" Today is a great day for California's taxpayers and animal lovers. TheCalifornia Healthy Pets Act will save millions of dollars that are currentlybeing used to shelter and euthanize unwanted animals. I look forward to

working with my colleagues in the Senate to pass this common sense solutionto the growing challenge of pet overpopulation in our state, " saidAssemblymember Levine.Sponsors of the California Healthy Pets Act include the California

Veterinary Medical Association, California Animal Control DirectorsAssociation, and the State Humane Association of California, whichrepresents local SPCAs and Humane Societies across the state. The bill is

also supported by law enforcement agencies, elected officials, and hundredsof animal organizations from across the state. " This is a monumental victory for anyone who cares about animals and every

taxpayer in the state. The California Healthy Pets Act is the best, mosthumane option of reducing the growing number of unwanted animals. Statusquo is not acceptable - we'll never be able to keep up by just hoping that

people do the right thing, " said Judie Mancuso, Campaign Director for theCalifornia Healthy Pets Coalition.The California Healthy Pets Act would enact a universal spay/neuter law forCalifornia. More than 20 common sense exemptions are provided in the bill,

including for show and sporting dogs, law enforcement dogs, dogs used insearch and rescue, pets that are too old or in poor health, and guide,service and signal animals.The bill is largely modeled on a successful universal spay and neuter

ordinance that the County of Santa Cruz implemented in 1995. By 2005,although the county's human population had grown by 15 percent, itsshelter's intake numbers had plummeted by more than half. This success has

inspired other jurisdictions, including the City of Sacramento and City ofSan Bernardino, to adopt similar measures.Dog or cat owners found to be in violation of AB 1634 would be cited, butwould not pay a fine if they had their animals spayed or neutered. All

funds from permits will be used to fund the administration, enforcement andoutreach efforts of the program as well as free or low-cost spay and neuterefforts.For more information, please visit <

http://www.cahealthypets.com/>www.cahealthypets.com.###