Wednesday, August 18, 2010

SB 250.....Return of the Undead

SB 250 has been taken out of the inactive file and may go before the full assembly for a vote. The bill has minor amendments as of today, August 18th, that do not address the basic flaws of the bill. If the bill does pass the assembly, it must still be approved by the Senate once more due to being amended.


There is no need to reinvent a broken wheel. Mandatory spay and neuter laws do not work. Please contact your assembly member today and request a NO vote on SB 250. Some reasons for opposition are listed below.

Senate Bill 250 is a draconian measure that will mandate sterilization of nearly all dogs and cats statewide. All dogs and cats must be neutered or spayed unless the owner holds a special license. Under the language as introduced, any leash law, licensing, tethering or other animal law violation is sufficient to deny or revoke that license. There are no provisions for performance or competition animals. There are no provisions for travelers, tourists, visitors or other such temporary presence in the state. A new class of dog-owning criminals will be created. Leaving your dog in your car or motor home (however briefly) will make you a criminal. Taking off a collar or leash would automatically make you a criminal.


This law creates new crimes and imposes new state-mandated duties on local animal control agencies. Experience has shown that punitive animal control legislation is costly and ineffective. Additionally, such legislation is unnecessary since surveys show that most owned dogs and cats are ALREADY sterilized.

The California Department of Finance opposes SB 250 because it would increase costs to state and local areas. 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. Experience has shown that local jurisdictions cannot recoup the costs to administer and enforce mandated sterilization laws from penalties and fees alone. To pay for the new bureaucracy, funds are taken from other city and county services, including law enforcement and public safety.


The ASPCA and the American Veterinary Medical Association are OPPOSED to mandatory sterilization laws because they don't work. Also, “Maddie’s funds” are not available to communities with sterilization mandates.


Veterinarians agree that surgery should be a decision made by pet owners and their veterinarians – not mandated by state government.

Dog impounds have fallen 86% over last 30 years. Dogs impounds in California have been falling steadily for decades because local shelters use programs that work: Pet owner education, rescue, foster programs, and subsidized low-cost spay/neuter services. NONE of these programs receive state funding under SB 250.

SB 250 does not help to reduce the numbers of feral cats, who comprise the majority of shelter intakes.

SB 250 is poorly drafted, cannot be enforced, and will be extremely costly to administer.

Animal control issues must be resolved at the local – not state – level. SB 250 will blanket all 58 counties in California with a mandate to enact, staff and administer a costly law that many local and community shelters don’t want or need. Currently, 12 California counties do not have an animal control department.

SB 250 will negatively impact the availability of pets, service dogs for the blind, deaf and disabled, police K9s, and working dogs. It will harm animals, punish millions of responsible pet owners, cost taxpayers billions, and increase both the abandoned pet population and euthanasia rates.

This bill imposes punishment for impounds of cats or dogs by mandating sterilization of pets before release. Add this to the other expenses involved in reclaiming a lost pet will result in dogs left behind instead of going home.

There are many reasons why a pet could be impounded by animal services such as fire, earthquake or other disasters. Such situations do not warrant a fine or punishment to the owner.

This bill allows the state to capriciously deprive owners of the reproductive values of show/breeding dogs or cats.

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, cobbled 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. Further, 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.

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. A person caring for a few free roaming/feral cats could be cited and subject to a civil penalty if over a local limit law, when ownership of these cats is not clearly defined.

Find your assemblymember contact information here:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY ROSTER


Assembly Member-Party-District-Phone-Fax-Email

Adams, Anthony R 59 (916) 319-2059 (916) 319-2159 Assemblymember.Adams@assembly.ca.gov

Ammiano, Tom D 13 (916) 319-2013 (916) 319-2113 Assemblymember.Ammiano@assembly.ca.gov

Anderson, Joel R 77 (916) 319-2077 (916) 319-2177 Assemblymember.Anderson@assembly.ca.gov

Arambula, Juan D 31 (916) 319-2031 (916) 319-2131 Assemblymember.Arambula@assembly.ca.gov

Bass, Karen D 47 (916) 319-2047 (916) 319-2147 Assemblymember.Bass@assembly.ca.gov

Beall, Jim Jr. D 24 (916) 319-2024 (916) 319-2124 Assemblymember.Beall@assembly.ca.gov

Berryhill, Bill R 26 (916) 319-2026 (916) 319-2126 Assemblymember.Bill.Berryhill@assembly.ca.gov

Berryhill, Tom R 25 (916) 319-2025 (916) 319-2125 Assemblymember.Tom.Berryhill@assembly.ca.gov

Blakeslee, Sam R 33 (916) 319-2033 (916) 319-2133 Assemblymember.Blakeslee@assembly.ca.gov

Block, Marty D 78 (916) 319-2078 (916) 319-2178 Assemblymember.Block@assembly.ca.gov

Blumenfield, Bob D 40 (916) 319-2040 (916) 319-2140 Assemblymember.Blumenfield@assembly.ca.gov

Bradford, Steven D 51 (916) 319-2051 (916) 319-2151 Assemblymember.Bradford@assembly.ca.gov

Brownley, Julia D 41 (916) 319-2041 (916) 319-2141 Assemblymember.Brownley@assembly.ca.gov

Buchanan, Joan D 15 (916) 319-2015 (916) 319-2115 Assemblymember.Buchanan@assembly.ca.gov

Caballero, Anna M. D 28 (916) 319-2028 (916) 319-2128 Assemblymember.Caballero@assembly.ca.gov

Calderon, Charles M. D 58 (916) 319-2058 (916) 319-2158 Assemblymember.Calderon@assembly.ca.gov

Carter, Wilmer Amina D 62 (916) 319-2062 (916) 319-2162 Assemblymember.Carter@assembly.ca.gov

Chesbro, Wesley D 1 (916) 319-2001 (916) 319-2101 Assemblymember.Chesbro@assembly.ca.gov

Conway, Connie R 34 (916) 319-2034 (916) 319-2134 Assemblymember.Conway@assembly.ca.gov

Cook, Paul R 65 (916) 319-2065 (916) 319-2165 Assemblymember.Cook@assembly.ca.gov

Coto, Joe D 23 (916) 319-2023 (916) 319-2123 Assemblymember.Coto@assembly.ca.gov

Davis, Mike D 48 (916) 319-2048 (916) 319-2148 Assemblymember.Davis@assembly.ca.gov

De La Torre, Hector D 50 (916) 319-2050 (916) 319-2150 Assemblymember.DeLaTorre@assembly.ca.gov

de Leon, Kevin D 45 (916) 319-2045 (916) 319-2145 Assemblymember.deLeon@assembly.ca.gov

DeVore, Chuck R 70 (916) 319-2070 (916) 319-2170 Assemblymember.DeVore@assembly.ca.gov

Eng, Mike D 49 (916) 319-2049 (916) 319-2149 Assemblymember.Eng@assembly.ca.gov

Evans, Noreen D 7 (916) 319-2007 (916) 319-2107 Assemblymember.Evans@assembly.ca.gov

Feuer, Mike D 42 (916) 319-2042 (916) 319-2142 Assemblymember.Feuer@assembly.ca.gov

Fletcher, Nathan R 75 (916) 319-2075 (916) 319-2175 Assemblymember.Fletcher@assembly.ca.gov

Fong, Paul D 22 (916) 319-2022 (916) 319-2122 Assemblymember.Fong@assembly.ca.gov

Fuentes, Felipe D 39 (916) 319-2039 (916) 319-2139 Assemblymember.Fuentes@assembly.ca.gov

Fuller, Jean R 32 (916) 319-2032 (916) 319-2132 Assemblymember.Fuller@assembly.ca.gov

Furutani, Warren T. D 55 (916) 319-2055 (916) 319-2155 Assemblymember.Furutani@assembly.ca.gov

Gaines, Ted R 4 (916) 319-2004 (916) 319-2104 Assemblymember.Gaines@assembly.ca.gov

Galgiani, Cathleen D 17 (916) 319-2017 (916) 319-2117 Assemblymember.Galgiani@assembly.ca.gov

Garrick, Martin R 74 (916) 319-2074 (916) 319-2174 Assemblymember.Garrick@assembly.ca.gov

Gatto, Mike D 43 (916) 319-2043 (916) 319-2143 Assemblymember.Gatto@assembly.ca.gov

Gilmore, Danny D. R 30 (916) 319-2030 (916) 319-2130 Assemblymember.Gilmore@assembly.ca.gov

Hagman, Curt R 60 (916) 319-2060 (916) 319-2160 Assemblymember.Hagman@assembly.ca.gov

Hall, Isadore III D 52 (916) 319-2052 (916) 319-2152 Assemblymember.Hall@assembly.ca.gov

Harkey, Diane L. R 73 (916) 319-2073 (916) 319-2173 Assemblymember.Harkey@assembly.ca.gov

Hayashi, Mary D 18 (916) 319-2018 (916) 319-2118 Assemblymember.Hayashi@assembly.ca.gov

Hernandez, Edward P. D 57 (916) 319-2057 (916) 319-2157 Assemblymember.Hernandez@assembly.ca.gov

Hill, Jerry D 19 (916) 319-2019 (916) 319-2119 Assemblymember.Hill@assembly.ca.gov

Huber, Alyson D 10 (916) 319-2010 (916) 319-2110 Assemblymember.Huber@assembly.ca.gov

Huffman, Jared D 6 (916) 319-2006 (916) 319-2106 Assemblymember.Huffman@assembly.ca.gov

Jeffries, Kevin R 66 (916) 319-2066 (916) 319-2166 Assemblymember.Jeffries@assembly.ca.gov

Jones, Dave D 9 (916) 319-2009 (916) 319-2109 Assemblymember.Jones@assembly.ca.gov

Knight, Steve R 36 (916) 319-2036 (916) 319-2136 Assemblymember.Knight@assembly.ca.gov

Lieu, Ted W. D 53 (916) 319-2053 (916) 319-2153 Assemblymember.Lieu@assembly.ca.gov

Logue, Dan R 3 (916) 319-2003 (916) 319-2103 Assemblymember.Logue@assembly.ca.gov

Lowenthal, Bonnie D 54 (916) 319-2054 (916) 319-2154 Assemblymember.Lowenthal@assembly.ca.gov

Ma, Fiona D 12 (916) 319-2012 (916) 319-2112 Assemblymember.Ma@assembly.ca.gov

Mendoza, Tony D 56 (916) 319-2056 (916) 319-2156 Assemblymember.Mendoza@assembly.ca.gov

Miller, Jeff R 71 (916) 319-2071 (916) 319-2171 Assemblymember.Miller@assembly.ca.gov

Monning, William W. D 27 (916) 319-2027 (916) 319-2127 Assemblymember.Monning@assembly.ca.gov

Nava, Pedro D 35 (916) 319-2035 (916) 319-2135 Assemblymember.Nava@assembly.ca.gov

Nestande, Brian R 64 (916) 319-2064 (916) 319-2164 Assemblymember.Nestande@assembly.ca.gov

Niello, Roger R 5 (916) 319-2005 (916) 319-2105 Assemblymember.Niello@assembly.ca.gov

Nielsen, Jim R 2 (916) 319-2002 (916) 319-2102 Assemblymember.Nielsen@assembly.ca.gov

Norby, Chris R 72 (916) 319-2072 (916) 319-2172 Assemblymember.Duvall@assembly.ca.gov

Pérez, John A. D 46 (916) 319-2046 (916) 319-2146 Assemblymember.John.Perez@assembly.ca.gov

Pérez, V. Manuel D 80 (916) 319-2080 (916) 319-2180 Assemblymember.Manuel.Perez@assembly.ca.gov

Portantino, Anthony J. D 44 (916) 319-2044 (916) 319-2144 Assemblymember.Portantino@assembly.ca.gov

Ruskin, Ira D 21 (916) 319-2021 (916) 319-2121 Assemblymember.Ruskin@assembly.ca.gov

Salas, Mary D 79 (916) 319-2079 (916) 319-2179 Assemblymember.Salas@assembly.ca.gov

Saldaña, Lori D 76 (916) 319-2076 (916) 319-2176 Assemblymember.Saldana@assembly.ca.gov

Silva, Jim R 67 (916) 319-2067 (916) 319-2167 Assemblymember.Silva@assembly.ca.gov

Skinner, Nancy D 14 (916) 319-2014 (916) 319-2114 Assemblymember.Skinner@assembly.ca.gov

Smyth, Cameron R 38 (916) 319-2038 (916) 319-2138 Assemblymember.Smyth@assembly.ca.gov

Solorio, Jose D 69 (916) 319-2069 (916) 319-2169 Assemblymember.Solorio@assembly.ca.gov

Strickland, Audra R 37 (916) 319-2037 (916) 319-2137 Assemblymember.Strickland@assembly.ca.gov

Swanson, Sandre R. D 16 (916) 319-2016 (916) 319-2116 Assemblymember.Swanson@assembly.ca.gov

Torlakson, Tom D 11 (916) 319-2011 (916) 319-2111 Assemblymember.Torlakson@assembly.ca.gov

Torres, Norma J. D 61 (916) 319-2061 (916) 319-2161 Assemblymember.Torres@assembly.ca.gov

Torrico, Alberto D 20 (916) 319-2020 (916) 319-2120 Assemblymember.Torrico@assembly.ca.gov

Tran, Van R 68 (916) 319-2068 (916) 319-2168 Assemblymember.Tran@assembly.ca.gov

Villines, Michael N. R 29 (916) 319-2029 (916) 319-2129 Assemblymember.Villines@assembly.ca.gov

Yamada, Mariko D 8 (916) 319-2008 (916) 319-2108 Assemblymember.Yamada@assembly.ca.gov

Vacant 63 (916) 319-2063 (916) 319-2163

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