Here’s the status of 2008 California Animal Legislation as of Sept. 18.

If you like, or dislike any of these laws, write your legislators and the Governor and tell them how you feel about it. The address for legislators and Governor: State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; 916-322-9900
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I just received a newsletter from Animal Place, a farm animal sanctuary, asking for help in stopping legislation that’s harmful to animals and those striving to protect animals.

Below are two bills that need action taken.
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Here’s the status of 2008 CALIFORNIA ANIMAL LEGISLATION in Sacramento, California.

If you like, or dislike any of these laws, write your legislators and the governor and tell them how you feel about it.

The address for legislators and Governor: State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814, 916/322-9900

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This is as bad as it gets:
“Santa Cruz Animal Services officers confiscated 38 dogs and puppies Saturday after finding ‘more dead dogs that we could count’ and dog heads hanging from trees.”

Some crazy guy in Santa Cruz County, Calif., is found to be abusing dogs. Animal control officers discover an unknown number of dead dogs and rotting carcasses and dog feces throughout his house … starving dogs chained with no food or water … body parts everywhere … decapitated dog heads hanging from trees … puppies …
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A study produced by UC Davis researchers and released yesterday provides further evidence that Proposition 2 is good for California consumers.

The study, which was reportedly funded by the American Egg Board, evaluated the economic impact of Prop 2, the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, which will appear on the statewide ballot in November.

According to the study’s authors, “little, if any cost increase and no substantial impact on prices to California consumers” will occur when voters approve Prop 2. The measure would prevent the cruel and inhumane confinement of calves raised for veal, breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens kept in crates and cages so small they cannot lie down, turn around, or extend their limbs.
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Animal bills for 2008 as of June 13.

Many of the following bills have not yet been assigned to committee or set for hearing. More bills may be discovered. We’ll let you know if and when they are.

This information has been compiled by Virginia Handley of Paw PAC, PO Box 475012, San Francisco, CA 94147, 415-646-0622 (voice mail). See their Web site, http://www.pawpac.org, write or call for a copy of the 2007 Voting Chart.
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A reader forwarded this little story from SUR, a newspaper in Southern Spain.

GENERAL NEWS:

Law reiterates and clarifies dangerous dog restrictions
A. Nogues

“The new law also includes a long chapter devoted to the ownership of potentially dangerous dogs. In this section the Junta de Andalucia has included all the breeds listed in the national legislation (Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Argentine Dogo, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu and Akita Inu) and has added the Doberman.

“Furthermore the dangerous dog category can also be applied to any dog that has been trained to attack or that has been certified as potentially dangerous by a vet due to its weight, size and aggressive character.

“These animals will have to undergo a training course and must be walked on a lead of no more than one metre and wear a muzzle, says the regulation which also bans this type of dog from areas such as children’s playgrounds. More than one dog of this kind must not be walked by any one person at the same time and documents to prove the animal is correctly registered must be carried at all times.

“Owners of dogs classed as dangerous must obtain a license from their local Town Hall and register their pet on the Andalusian Animal Identification Register (RAIA) through authorized vets. The owner must be over the age of 18 and able-bodied, pass a psychological test, be free of convictions of serious offenses and take out a civil responsibility insurance policy with cover of at least 175,000 euros.” (That equals $266,017 U.S. dollars)

I did a little checking on the Internet and discovered that the dangerous dog regulations in the story above also contain some interesting laws for other types of “dangerous pets” in Southern Spain.

For example:
“Under the new system, large reptiles, poisonous insects and large primates will not be allowed in Andalucian households and people who flout the law could be hit with a fine of 115,000 euros ($174,811 U.S. dollars). People living in the region who already own such pets will be given a six-month period to take the forbidden animal to their local city hall and hand it over … “

Owners of dogs, snakes and other “interesting” pets would probably be wise not to share this little story with their local animal control department, humane society, or SPCA. You might give them some silly ideas. /Gary

Animal bills for 2008 as of March 3

Many of the following bills have not yet been assigned to committee or set for hearing. More bills may be discovered. We’ll let you know if they are.

This information has been compiled by Virginia Handley of Paw PAC, PO Box 475012, San Francisco, CA 94147, 415-646-0622. See their Web site, http://www.pawpac.org, write or call for a copy of the 2007 Voting Chart.

To see actual copies of these bills go to http://www.leginfo.ca.gov

THE BILLS:

AB 1634 by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine re: Spay/Neuter. SUPPORT.
Requires six month old dogs/cats to be spayed/neutered. Exempts show and hunting dogs, research, law enforcement, search/rescue, service dogs, dogs/cats too old or sick. Breeders have to have permits, but allows one dog litter for one year.
Next Hearing: Senate Local Government. Maybe April.
Write: Senator Gloria Negrete-McCloud, Chairwoman. Tell her that pet overpopulation costs cities/counties millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of animal lives.

AB 2098 by Assemblyman Paul Krekorian re: Downed Animals. SUPPORT.
Strengthens the existing law prohibiting auctions and state inspected slaughterhouses from accepting or dragging downed animals.

AB 2233 by Assemblyman Bill Maze re: Dogs in Cars.
Prohibits having a dog, or any animal, in your lap while driving.

AB 2281 by Assemblyman Pedro Nava re: Dog Fighting. SUPPORT.
Strengthens existing penalty for attending a dog fight from a misdemeanor to a felony.

AB 2291 by Assemblyman Tony Mendoza re: Spay/Neuter. SUPPORT.
Adds a check off on state income tax forms to finance low cost spay/neuter programs.

AB 2602 by Assemblyman Cameron Smyth re: Hunting. SUPPORT.
Declares the intention of the Legislature to prohibit schools from funding or supporting the hunting or trapping of wildlife.

AB 2785 by Assemblyman Ira Ruskin re: Wildlife Corridors. SUPPORT.
Requires the Wildlife Conservation Board to designate and protect wildlife corridors. AB 828 of 2007 on the same subject was vetoed.

AB 2911 by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk re: Oil Spills. SUPPORT.
Among many provisions, strengthens protection against oil spills (as does AB 1806 and AB 2912, not listed in this alert) and provides for the better use of volunteers to rehabilitate wildlife.
Hearing: Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife. No date set.
Write: Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, Chairwoman. Thank her for introducing AB 2911. Wildlife rehabilitation is dependent on the volunteers to act quickly in emergencies.

SB 685 by Senator Leland Yee re: Pet Trusts. SUPPORT.
Strengthens pet trusts for animals in wills to provide for their care and provide oversight of the money. Mandates care for animals for their lifetime even if over 21 years, such as parrots and horses.
Next Hearing: Assembly Judiciary. No date set.
Write: Assemblyman Dave Jones, Chairman. Tell him animals deserve the care and protection their people provided for them in their wills.

SB 1121 by Senator Carole Migden re: Cloned Animals. SUPPORT.
Requires animal products from cloned animals be labeled. SB 63 of 2007 on the same subject was vetoed.
Next Hearing: Senate Health. No date set.
Write: Senator Sheila Kuehl, Chairwoman. Tell her that consumers/public have a right to know the origins of animals in the agriculture industry.

State Budget re: Fish and Game Wardens, Shelter Mandates. OPPOSE.
Among many cutbacks, the budget reduces the number of Fish & Game wardens. Also, the State Analyst has recommended that the unfunded state mandates (longer holding periods, shelter vet care) of the Hayden law be removed which have already cost the State well over $100 million.
Write: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Tell him our wildlife is dependent on the enforcement of laws against poaching and protection of habitat. Wardens are already understaffed and underpaid. Also, tell him that animals in shelters need veterinary care and the opportunity to be reclaimed or adopted.

INITIATIVES

“California Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act.” Mandates pregnant pigs, veal calves, and egg laying birds (chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, guinea fowl) have room to stand up, turn around, lie down and extend their limbs. Does not include dairy calves who replace dairy cows. Over 600,000 signatures have been gathered and the initiative will be on the November 2008 ballot. Info: http://www.humanecalifornia.org

“California Farm Animal Protection Act” (07-0058). Put in by the agriculture industry to counteract the Calif. Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act. Mandates compliance with industry standards which are much lower than those in the California Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act. It has not yet qualified for the ballot.

Sponsored by opponents of AB 1634 initiatives 07-0056, 07-0057, 07-0059, 07-0060, 07-0062, 07-0063 have been submitted to prevent any future legislation to require spay/neuter or micro-chipping. Declares animals are property under the Constitution. They have not yet qualified for the ballot.

Looks like it’s going to be a VERY interesting year of squabbling in Sacramento. /Gary

SB 685, the Pet Trust Bill, will make pet trusts valid and enforceable in California

San Francisco SPCA president Jan McHugh-Smith hails the state Senate Judiciary Committee’s unanimous passage of SB 685, The Pet Trust Bill, on Jan. 15.

“The eventual passage of this bill will bring California into line with the majority of other states which already have enforceable pet trust laws,” McHugh-Smith noted. “It will also bring great peace of mind to pet guardians who wish to ensure continuing care for their companion animals should they predecease them.”

The Pet Trust Bill is sponsored by the SF/SPCA and carried by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo). The bill is also supported by the Humane Society of the United States, WildCare, The Marin Humane Society, the San Francisco Dog Owners Group (SFDOG), and other advocacy groups.

A legal pet trust protects companion animals and ensures that they receive the continuing care for which their owner/guardians planned. Currently, although California has recognized pet trusts for many years, these are only “honorary” trusts with no enforcement capability. SB 685 will make pet trust law consistent with other trust law by requiring trustees to carry out trust instructions regarding pets, and by incorporating oversight to guarantee performance.

SB 685 must now be heard and passed by the State Senate by Feb. 25. It will next be heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee before moving into the Assembly for passage. The bill will then go to the Governor for consideration to be signed into law.

About time! /Gary

Here’s everything you always wanted to know about new animal laws, and more!

2007 California Animal Legislation Update

Many thanks to Virginia Handley & PawPAC for pulling all this together! /Gary

Address for legislators and Governor: State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, California 94814
Phone Directory: 916-322-9900.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: 916-445-2841.

** The Legislature has adjourned until January, 2008.
** Bills on the Governor’s desk must be signed by October 14.

BILLS ON THE GOVERNOR’S DESK

Assembly:

AB 449 by Assemblywoman Audra Strickland re: Trapping.
Requires trappers who trap animals for a fee to follow the American Veterinary Medical Assn. guidelines if animals are killed. Trapped animals should be released and if it isn’t possible they should be killed humanely. AB 449 should have required gunshot (as recommended in Humane Society of the US Field Euthanasia Manual and Society of Mammalogists and required under the Fish and Game trapping regulations) when legal as the preferred method. Gunshot is more humane than transporting frightened animals to be killed later by slower and questionable methods that suffocate them such as Carbon Dioxide.

** THIS ONE IS VERY IMPORTANT!! /Gary **
AB 821 by Assemblyman Pedro Nava re: Hunting with Lead Shot. Support.
Enacts the Condor Preservation Act to prohibit lead shot within condor habitat when hunting big game and coyotes. Write: Governor Schwarzenegger. Tell him condors cannot survive against lead shot. It is banned for waterfowl hunting and should be banned for all hunting.

AB 828 by Assemblyman Ira Ruskin re: Wildlife Corridors. Support.
Requires the Wildlife Conservation Board to determine what areas are most essential as wildlife corridors and utilize the California Comprehensive Wildlife Action Plan to protect those corridors. Write: Governor Schwarzenegger. Tell him wildlife corridors are essential to allow migrations and prevent isolated populations.

AB 1477 by Assemblywoman Nell Soto re: Trapping. Support.
Requires trappers who trap animals for a fee (such as raccoons, opossums, coyotes, etc.) to have continuing education courses, release non-target animals, take injured/sick non target animals to a vet, animal control, or wildlife rehabilitation facility, and inform their clients of non lethal control options. Write: Governor Schwarzenegger. Tell him non target animals should be immediately released and trappers should have continuing education. Non lethal methods to avoid wildlife conflicts are best for everybody. See AB 499.

AB 1614 by Assemblywoman Audra Stickland re: Rodeos. Support.
Lowers the definition of rodeo from four events to three in order to cover all rodeos under existing law requiring a veterinarian, or a vet on call, to treat injuries to animals and report those injuries to the Veterinary Medical Board. AB 1614 also requires a conveyance for injured animals so they are not dragged and bans electric prods. Write: Governor Schwarzenegger. Tell him all rodeos should be regulated equally and all the animals deserve equal protection and veterinary care.

Senate

SB 353 by Senator Sheila Kuehl re: Restraint Orders. Support.
Authorizes the court to add animals to restraint orders to protect them from possible harm from domestic abuse. Write: Governor Schwarzenegger. Tell him animals, like other family members, are victims of revenge and abuse.

SB 880 by Senator Ron Calderon re: Kangaroos. Oppose.
Removes the protection, since 1970, of kangaroos by allowing the importation of their skins (used for athletic shoes) and meat (possibly pet and/or livestock food) into California as long as the kill quota is not raised in Australia. Call or Write: Governor Schwarzenegger (916-445-2841) SB 880 is on his phone machine for support/opposition. Kangaroos need California’s continued protection from cruel killing and the danger of killing endangered kangaroos. Since the killing never meets the quota, hundreds of thousands more kangaroos can be killed for the California market. Sponsored by Adidas, they have spent over $435,000, thus far, to pass SB 880.

FARM ANIMAL INITIATIVE
Sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States titled the “California Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act.” Mandates that pregnant pigs, veal calf crates (there are none in Calif.), and birds laying eggs (chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese and guinea fowl) have room to stand up, turn around, lie down and extend their limbs. Does not include dairy calves (many thousands are raised in crates) who replace dairy cows. 600,000 signatures must be gathered from October 2007 through February 2008.
Meetings: Oct. 1, Sacramento SPCA, 6201 Florin Perkins Rd., Sacramento, 7 to 10 p.m.; Oct. 2, San Francisco SPCA, 2500 – 16th St., San Francisco, 7 to 10 p.m.; Oct. 4, LA Animal Services, 14409 Vanowen St., Van Nuys, 7 to 10 p.m.; Oct. 5, Health Services Complex, 3851 Rosencrans St., San Diego, 7 to 10 p.m.

CALIFORNIA FISH & GAME COMMISSION
1416 – 9th St. Sacramento, CA 95814

Hunting Regulations re: Lead Shot Ban. Support.
Fish and Game is considering a ban on the use of lead shot within condor habitat. Hearing: October 11, 10 a.m., Crown Plaza, 75 John Glenn Dr., Concord. Tell them lead shot should be banned in the entire state as all wildlife suffers and dies from it.

Fish and Game Commissioner Judd Hanna
Commissioner Judd Hanna, recently appointed to the Commission, has resigned under pressure from the Schwarzenegger administration, 34 Republican legislators, and the gun/hunting lobby because of his advocacy to ban lead shot. Write: Governor Schwarzenneger and the Commission. Ask the Governor not to accept Hanna’s resignation and ask the Commission to defend their fellow Commissioner who was doing his job in protecting wildlife from lead shot.

CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR BOARD
1600 Exposition Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95815
916-63-3276

California State Fair
Two rampaging bulls at the Sacramento State Fair seriously injured a policewoman and terrorized children when the bulls escaped their enclosure where they awaited their “Dancing With Bulls” event. Events like this and “cowboy poker,” “mutton busting,” and “teeter-totter” endanger both animals and the public. Hearing: September 28. Tell them these events should be banned and the stock contractors who provide these events should not be hired again.

PASSED:

AB 222 by Assemblyman Bill Emmerson re: Undomesticated Burros.
Authorizes the capture, removal, and relocation of undomesticated burros if the burros are at risk of injury from traffic or insufficient habitat. Allows euthanasia if injured.

AB 450 by Assemblywoman Audra Strickland re: Wildlife in Captivity.
Delays the already passed deadline of 2007 to 2009 for the Fish and Game Dept. to implement a new inspection program for wild animal facilities. Veterinarians paid by the permittees sign off on inspections, a conflict of interest. AB 450 was incorporated into AB 1729.

AB 667 by Assemblyman Cameron Smyth re: Police Dogs and Horses. Support.
Increases the penalty for injuring a police horse or police dog.

AB 670 by Assemblyman Tod Spitzer re: Dog Bites.
Requires an owner whose dog bites (broken the skin) anyone to provide info (name, address, etc.) to the person bitten.

SB 77 re: California Budget
$1,495,000 (reduced from $10 million, to $3 million, then reduced by the Governor to $1,495,000) to pay for warden overtime. It will not be spent on hiring additional wardens, or on the Warden Academy to train new wardens. California Fish and Game wardens are understaffed, underpaid and overworked yet have jobs equally, if not more, dangerous than other law enforcement agencies. Our wildlife depends on our dedicated wardens.

INACTIVE:
The following bills failed to get enough votes or did not go to a vote because they were withdrawn by the legislator because there were problems. They can be brought up again in 2008, probably with amendments.

AB 64 by Assemblywoman Patty Berg re: Emergencies. Support.
Allows licensed veterinarians and vet techs from out of state to practice in California during disasters.

AB 564 by Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally re: Pigs. Support.
Prohibits pregnant pigs from being confined in gestation crates where they cannot turn around or extend their limbs. AB 564 has been amended to an unrelated subject.

AB 777 by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine re: Elephants. Support.
Prohibits bullhooks and chaining. Mandates enrichments, soft flooring, pools and exercise if capital funds are expended. Enrichments should be mandated independent of capital fund expenditures. A last minute amendment, not accepted by the committee, would have limited the bill to prohibit bullhooks.

AB 815 by Assemblyman Tom Berryhill re: Hunting/Fishing. Oppose.
Prohibits any city/county from enacting an ordinance that affects hunting or fishing.

AB 912 by Assemblywoman Nicole Parra re: Hunting. Oppose.
Creates a mentored hunting program that allows anyone to hunt without a license for a year if accompanied by qualified mentor.

AB 939 by Assemblywoman Nell Soto re: Teachers. Support.
Prohibits hiring of teachers convicted of cruelty to animals. AB 939 was amended to an unrelated subject.

AB 1100 by Assemblyman Ira Ruskin re: Cloned Farm Animals. Support.
Requires labeling of cloned farm animal products unless preempted by federal law.

AB 1016 by Assemblyman George Plecia re: Race Horses. Oppose.
Allows boarding/training facilities to sell losing race horses with unpaid bills without going through the court.

AB 1634 by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine re: Spay/Neuter. Support.
Requires six month old dogs/cats to be spayed/neutered. Exempts show and hunting dogs, research, law enforcement, search/rescue, service dogs, dogs/cats too old or sick. Breeders have to have permits, but allows one dog litter for one year. A last minute amendment, which was not accepted by the committee, would have limited the bill to “problem dogs.”

SB 863 by Senator Leland Yee re: Horse Racing.
Prohibits more than three members (currently five out of seven) of the Horse Racing Board to be owners of race horses. Requires Board to pass regulations on conflicts of interest and ethics.

** For copies of bills: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov

** To find your legislators: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

** To be added to this alert: E-mail info@pawpac.org. Include name, street address, phone number, and organization affiliation, if applicable.

** The above list was compiled by Virginia Handley 510-222-2236.
Paw PAC, P.O. Box 475012, San Francisco, CA 94147.
See the Web site for the 2006 Voting Chart. The 2007 Voting Chart is currently being compiled.
http://www.pawpac.org/