Berkeley East Bay Humane Society photo

The Humane Society of the United States Applauds Governor Brown’s Enactment of New Animal Protection Reforms

California cracks down on shark finning, animal fighting, and pet overpopulation

SACRAMENTO -– Championed by The Humane Society of the United States and other advocacy organizations, backed by Californians, and supported by overwhelmingly bi-partisan votes in the Legislature, the seven bills signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown this session add to California’s track record as a front-runner in initiating path-breaking animal protection legislation.

“The animals themselves may be voiceless, but Governor Brown’s signature speaks volumes,” said HSUS senior state director Jennifer Fearing. “These laws reflect Californians’ widespread support for strong, enforceable laws to protect animals.”

The governor has joined the legislature in enacting the following bills this year:
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Black bear photo by Flickr user emples used under a Creative Commons License

California Animal Legislation as of July 26, 2010, compiled by Paw Pac, California’s Political Action Committee for Animals.

** For copies of bills, analysis, and votes to read them in more detail: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov. You can subscribe for updates.
** All legislators’ and Governor’s address: State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento 95814. State Directory: 916-922-9300.
** To find the names of your Assembly Member and Senator: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html. Or look in your local phone book under State Listings for Assembly and senate.
** E-mail addresses follow a formula. Examples: assemblymember.huffman@assembly.ca.gov, or, senator.pavley@sen.ca.gov. Letters, including hand written, by regular mail are always preferable to e-mail.
** Paw PAC 2008 California Voting Chart, endorsements for the 2010 November General Election: http://www.pawpac.org
** Compiled by: Virginia Handley
** Paw Pac: P.O. Box 475012, San Francisco, CA 94147; 415-626-0244.

If you like or dislike any of the following new proposed legislation, write your legislators and the governor and tell them how you feel about it … BEFORE they become laws. /Gary
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Black bear. Photo by Flickr user tuchodi used under a Creative Commons License.

California Animal Legislation as of June 17, 2010, compiled by Paw Pac, California’s Political Action Committee for Animals.

** For copies of bills to read them in more detail: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov. You can subscribe for updates.
** All legislators’ and Governor’s address: State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento 95814. Directory: 916-322-9900.
** To find the names of your Assembly Member and Senator: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html
** E-mail addresses follow a formula. Examples: assemblymember.huffman@assembly.ca.gov, or, senator.pavley@sen.ca.gov. Letters, including hand written, by regular mail are always preferable to e-mail.
** Paw PAC 2008 California Voting Chart, endorsements for the 2010 November General Election: http://www.pawpac.org
** Compiled by: Virginia Handley
** Paw Pac: P.O. Box 475012, San Francisco, CA 94147; 415-626-0244

If you like or dislike any of the following new proposed legislation, write your legislators and the governor and tell them how you feel about it … BEFORE they become laws. /Gary
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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