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

These new animal laws were passed, or vetoed, or may have another shot in 2008.

2007 CALIFORNIA ANIMAL LEGISLATION — FINAL EDITION
The Legislature has adjourned until January 2008. The next Legislative meeting is November 12, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Room 113, Capitol Bldg., Sacramento. Agenda: 2007 Bills and 2008 Possible Legislation. All animal advocates are welcome.

THESE BILLS WERE PASSED AND BECAME LAW THIS YEAR:
** 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 put into AB 1729.

** 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.

** AB 821 by Assemblyman Pedro Nava re: Hunting with Lead Shot. Support.
Enacts the Condor Preservation Act to prohibit lead shot within current and historical condor habitat when hunting big game and coyotes.

** AB 1347 by Assemblywoman Anna Caballero re: Pet Shops.
Sets some minimum standards for pet shops on space, vet care, and euthanasia. Sponsored by the pet industry, it provides warnings before infractions can be issued.

** AB 1614 by Assemblywoman Audra Stickland re: Rodeos. Support.
Lowers the definition of rodeo from four events to three to cover Mexican style “charreadas.” Requires a vet, or vet on call, to treat animal injuries, report injuries to the Vet Med. Bd., provide a conveyance for injured animals, and bans electric prods.

** AB 1729 by Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife re: Wildlife.
An omnibus bill amending the Fish and Game Code. Successfully amended to remove sections that would have allowed fur trapping of red fox, pigeon shoots, bounties, and removing a holding period for captured exotic animals. It exempts people trapping gophers, moles, mice, rats and voles from having to get Fish and Game trapping licenses.

** SB 77 re: California Budget.
$1,495,000 (reduced from $10 million, to $3 million, then reduced by half by the Governor) to pay for warden overtime pay. It will not be spent on hiring additional badly needed wardens.
An as yet undetermined amount will be spent ($121 million as of 2006) to reimburse cities and counties for state mandated costs associated with SB 1785 (1997) requiring additional holding times and vet care in animal control shelters.

** 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.

** SB 880 by Senator Ron Calderon re: Kangaroos. Oppose.
Sponsored by Adidas, 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.

** SCR 9 by Senator Darrell Steinberg re: Spay Day 2007. Support.
Declares February 27, 2007 as Spay Day 2007 to encourage spaying and neutering of dogs and cats and the participation of veterinarians to help shelters and rescue groups. Spay Day resolutions are passed every year.

** Assemblywoman Patty Berg Resolution re: Marjorie Davis. Support.
Honors Marjorie Davis of Fawn Rescue for her decades of work rehabilitating fawns.

** Fish and Game Commission re: Judd Hanna. Oppose.
Commissioner Judd Hanna, recently appointed to the Commission, resigned under pressure from the Schwarzenegger administration, 34 Republican legislators, and the gun/hunting lobby because of his advocacy to ban lead shot.

THESE BILLS WERE VETOED THIS YEAR
** AB 449 by Assemblywoman Audra Strickland re: Trapping.
Would have required licensed trappers to follow Appendix 2 of the American Veterinary Medical Assn. guidelines if animals are killed. Allows gunshot only if other methods are not available.

** AB 828 by Assemblyman Ira Ruskin re: Wildlife Corridors. Support.
Would have required 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.

** AB 1477 by Assemblywoman Nell Soto re: Trapping. Support.
Would have required licensed trappers 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.

** SB 63 by Senator Carole Migden re: Cloned Farm Animals. Support.
Would have required labeling of cloned farm animal products.

THESE BILLS BECAME INACTIVE THIS YEAR
The following bills failed to get enough votes or did not go to a vote because they were withdrawn by the legislator. They can be brought up again in 2008.

** AB 64 by Assemblywoman Patty Berg re: Emergencies. Support.
Allows licensed vets and vet techs from out of state to practice here 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 was amended to an unrelated subject.

** AB 576 by Assemblywoman Wilmer Carter re: State Park/Dairy Farm. Support.
Prohibits a 16,000 cow dairy farm from being built next to the Allensworth State Park.

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

** 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.

** 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.

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

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. 600,000 signatures must be gathered from October 2007 through February 2008. 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.

** Sponsored by Pet PAC (not Paw PAC) (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. These initiatives are an opposition response to AB 1634.

YOU CAN READ OR PRINT OUT COPIES OF ALL BILLS AT:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov

THE ABOVE LIST WAS COMPILED BY:
Virginia Handley, Paw PAC, P.O. Box 475012, San Francisco, CA 94147, 415-646-0622; http://www.pawpac.org

See the Paw PAC website for the 2006 Voting Chart. The 2007 Voting Chart is currently being compiled.

THANKS, VIRGINIA!
Let’s hear a big round of applause for Virginia Handley for pulling this information all together so we can see what’s going in. /Gary

It’s way past time to stop cruelty to 20 million factory farming animals.
This week, a broad coalition, including animal protection groups, veterinarians, environmentalists, and food safety advocates, begins collecting signatures to put an anti-cruelty initiative on the California ballot for November 2008.

Californians for Humane Farms will collect more than 650,000 signatures to place the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act on the general election ballot. The measure will help prevent cruelty to nearly 20 million animals confined in industrial factory farms in California, as well as protect California’s environment.

The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act provides basic protections requiring that animals be able to turn around and extend their limbs. It will prevent the use of inhumane factory farming practices such as keeping animals confined in small crates or cages — specifically, veal crates for calves, battery cages for egg-laying hens, and gestation crates for breeding pigs.

“It is exceedingly cruel to confine animals in cages so small they can’t turn around and extend their limbs,” stated Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “California citizens can help prevent farm animal cruelty by volunteering to gather signatures to put this historic initiative on the ballot.”

The Humane Society of the United States and Farm Sanctuary are two of the groups sponsoring the initiative. The two organizations led a successful ballot initiative in Florida in 2002 which banned gestation crates for breeding pigs (55%-45%) and in Arizona in 2006 which banned crates for breeding pigs and veal calves (62%-38%). In 2007, the Oregon legislature banned gestation crates.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
** Veal crates are narrow wooden enclosures that prevent calves from turning around or lying down comfortably. The calves are typically chained by their necks and suffer immensely.

** California factory farms confine approximately 19 million hens per year in barren battery cages that are so small, the birds can’t even spread their wings. Each bird has less space than a single sheet of paper on which to live.
I remember writing a story about an egg farm in Gilroy, Calif., a couple of years ago. I was shocked when I entered a warehouse bigger than a couple of football fields. The stench was incredible. It was almost pitch black except for a few bare bulbs here and there so employees could see enough to remove dead hens from cages and toss them on the floor. I tripped over those dead bodies as I moved throughout the building.
Each tiny cage was stuffed with 6-8 hens, jammed in together so tight they were piled on top of each other. The top chickens were white. The ones on the bottom were black because they were covered with chicken poop from the hens on top. The chickens couldn’t move except to poop and lay eggs and barely stick their heads through the sides of the wire cages to peck at food as it passed by on a conveyor belt. It was horrible.
Underneath the cages another moving conveyor belt caught the eggs that fell from each cage and transported them to another room where they were prepared for delivery to local markets … and your refrigerator.
Needless to say, I’m definitely adding my signature to put this anti-cruelty initiative on the ballot.

** During their four-month pregnancies, nearly 20,000 female breeding pigs in California are confined in barren gestation crates—individual metal enclosures only 2 feet wide. The crates are so small, the animals cannot even turn around.

** The measure will prevent out-of-state factory farm operators from setting up shop in our state with veal crates, battery cages and gestation crates.

** Confining animals in crates or cages results in a high density of animals in industrial factory farms, leading to more animal waste and pollution of air and water, as well as risk of disease transmission such as salmonella.

MORE ABOUT:
The Humane Society of the United States: http://www.hsus.org

Farm Sanctuary: http://www.farmsanctuary.org

PLEASE:
Sign a petition to put this initiative on the ballot when you have a chance. Thanks. /Gary

Ever wondered why, even though endangered California condors are dying in droves from lead poisoning, that hunters have NOT been banned from using lead shot in the supposedly protected areas where only 70 of these precious birds still live in our state?

Did you know that one Fish and Game Commissioner, Judd Hanna, just got “kicked” off the Commission by Gov. Schwarzenegger because he was in favor of banning lead shot in the condor refuge?

Hint: Think special interest groups, like the National Rifle Association.

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, will be happy to take you on a very smelly and politically enlightening trip through his own blog on the subject if you click on: http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2007/09/ca-nra-adidas.html

After reading that, do you really think the Gov. is going to sign AB 821, a bill sitting on his desk that would ban hunters from using lead shot in areas populated by endangered condors? What a stupid, stupid mess. Poor condors, dying from something they don’t even understand. Sadly, neither do I.
/Gary Bogue

SB 880 would allow the importation of kangaroo skins from Australia.
Eric Mills, coordinator of ACTION FOR ANIMALS in Oakland, sent me the following letter this morning, asking for help in defeating a state Senate bill that would contribute to the killing of thousands of Australian kangaroos. If you care about this, please make a call, send a fax, or send an e-mail protesting SB 880 and asking that it be opposed. Information on how to do this is below:

Gary:
Calls/faxes/e-mails are needed immediately.

In an unfortunate recent development, Assemblyman Fabian Nunez, Speaker of the state Assembly, has agreed to present SB 880 (Calderon) on the Assembly floor. (The bill has already passed the Senate.) As you know, SB 880 would allow the importation of kangaroo products (hides for soccer cleats, meat for pet food, back scratchers made from kangaroo forearms, coin purses made from kangaroo scrotums, etc. I’m not making this up!).

TALKING POINTS:
This bloody and inhumane trade has been banned since 1970, due to the cruelty involved. The adult kangaroos are spotlighted at night, then shot to death. Many will escape wounded, to suffer a lingering death. The joeys (babies) routinely have their heads smashed or stomped. Can you imagine the public outcry if we were to treat America’s national emblem like this? And once the animals are dead and skinned, it will be impossible to tell endangered and threatened species from the would-be “legal” trade. There’s also a concern that even more kangaroos would be killed, for the current “take” in Australia is considerably less than the given “quota.”

As Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Nunez is the 2nd or 3rd most powerful legislator in Sacramento. We need to inundate his offices with calls/letters/e-mails of protest, both in Sacramento and in his Los Angeles home district. He especially needs to hear from his L.A. constituents.

The Assembly floor meets today (Monday, 8/27) at 1 p.m., and the bill could come up then; if not then, probably soon thereafter.

Please make those calls ASAP, and continue to urge your own Assembly member to vote NO on SB 880.

Please disperse this alert to all interested parties.

Many thanks, Eric Mills, coordinator, ACTION FOR ANIMALS

Assemblyman Fabian Nunez, Speaker of the Assembly
SACRAMENTO OFFICE
tel. 916-319-2046
fax 916-319-2146
e-mail — assemblymember.nunez@assembly.ca.gov

LOS ANGELES OFFICE
tel. 213-620-4646
fax 213-620-6319

Thanks for caring! /Gary

Thursday, after a mysterious delay of almost four years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service FINALLY finalized its long-awaited regulations to implement the Captive Wildlife Safety Act which Congress passed unanimously AND President Bush signed into law waaay back in late 2003.

This law prohibits interstate commerce in lions, tigers and other big cats AS PETS.

FINALLY!

This morning, The Humane Society of the United States sent me the following update on the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, which saves me a whole LOT of personal research to pull all this stuff together for you to read. Thank you, HSUS!

The HSUS says:
“Lions and tigers kept as pets in our communities are time bombs waiting to explode,” said Michael Markarian, HSUS executive vice president. “People get these animals as cubs and then are not equipped to care for them as they grow larger, but there is no place for them to go. It’s time the government cracked down on this dangerous and inhumane trade.”

Ten people have been killed by captive big cats in the United States since 2001, and many more have been injured. An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 big cats are kept in private hands in the United States, and they are readily available at exotic animal auctions and over the Internet.

The new federal rule complements the laws many states have enacted to prohibit private possession of big cats as pets. It targets the pet trade and has no impact on federally licensed facilities such as zoos. It also exempts legitimate wildlife sanctuaries, but does not exempt pseudo-sanctuaries that breed or trade the animals.

“Not only are these animals incredibly dangerous when held privately, but they hold no conservation value in backyards and basements,” noted Adam Roberts, vice president of Born Free USA. “We live in a world where lions in Africa and tigers in India are facing a downward spiral toward extinction. Our national efforts must be devoted toward saving these species in the wild.”

Similar legislation is under consideration by the U.S. Congress to protect monkeys, chimpanzees, and other primates. The Captive Primate Safety Act was introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and David Vitter (R-La.) in the Senate (S. 1498) and Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Tex.) and Mark Steven Kirk (R-Ill.) in the House (H.R. 2964). The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approved the bill unanimously on July 31, and it now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

Timeline for the Captive Wildlife Safety Act:
September 17, 2007 — Captive Wildlife Safety Act becomes effective
August 16, 2007 — Final regulations published in the Federal Register
January 31, 2006 — Regulations proposed for 30-day comment period
December 19, 2003 — Captive Wildlife Safety Act signed into law

You’ll find more interesting stuff about what’s happening with animals at http://www.hsus.org

Condors are dying from lead poisoning … and there aren’t … very … many … left.
Thought this letter might interest you (see below). Please do as Eric says and write your legislators and ask them to support AB 821. This is a VERY important bill. Thanks!

From Eric Mills, Action for Animals:
Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) has introduced AB 821, which would ban the use of lead shot for hunting big game and coyotes in condor habitat. The bill has passed the Assembly, and is now on the Senate floor. It deserves broad public support.

It is enlightening to consider the dozen organizations which have submitted letters of opposition to this commonsense legislation:
California Association of Firearms Retailers, California Outdoor Heritage Alliance, California Rifle & Pistol Association, California Sportsman’s Lobby, Crossroads of the West Gun Shows, Dept. of Fish & Game, Gun Owners of California, National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Outdoor Sportsmen’s Coalition of California, Safari Club International, Sporting Arms & Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute.

So much for “hunter ethics.” All legislators may be written c/o The State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Sincerely, Eric Mills, coordinator ACTION FOR ANIMALS, P.O. Box 20184, Oakland, CA 94620 — 510-652-5603

As I said above, please write your legislators and ask them to save the lives of the VERY FEW remaining California condors and SUPPORT AB 821.
Thanks! /Gary

(PS: Don’t you just LOVE that list of organizations OPPOSING this bill?? Curious)

More on lead exposure and condors: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/species/condor/Condor-Lead-Science.pdf

Status of some of the California animal bills in Sacramento as of July 16
To express support or opposition for a particular bill, please write or call the bill’s author, committee chair and members of the committee where the bill will be heard (see committee list below), your own Assembly member and Senator, and the Governor.

The address for all Legislators and the Governor: (Name), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814.

Phone Directory: 916-322-9900. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: 916-445-2841.

COMMITTEES:
Assembly Appropriations Committee: Mark Leno, Chair. Mimi Walters, Anna Caballero, Mike Davis, Mark DeSaulnier, Bill Emmerson, Jared Huffman, Betty Karnette, Paul Krekorian, Doug La Malfa, Ted Lieu, Fiona Ma, Alan Nakanishi, Pedro Nava, Sharon Runner, Jose Solorio.

Senate Appropriations Committee: Tom Torlakson, Chair. Dave Cox, Sam Aanestad, Roy Ashburn, Jim Battin, Gil Cedillo, Ellen Corbett, Bob Dutton, Dean Florez, Sheila Kuehl, Jenny Oropeza, Mark Ridley-Thomas, George Runner, Joe Simitian, Darrell Steinberg, Mark Wyland, Leland Yee.

SOME OF THE BILLS MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY:

*** AB 449 by Assemblywoman Audra Strickland re: Trapping. Support.
Requires trappers who trap animals for a fee (such as raccoons, opossums, coyotes, etc.) to follow American Veterinary Medical Assn. guidelines if animals are killed. Clients must be informed of options, including releasing the animals on the property.
Next Hearing: Senate Appropriations. No date. Tell the legislators trapped animals should be released and if it isn’t possible they should be killed humanely. The list of animals covered should be expanded to include bats and other animals already included in the training and testing for Fish and Game trapping licenses. See AB 1477.

*** AB 821 by Assemblyman Pedro Nava re: Hunting with Lead Shot. Support.
Enacts the Condor Preservation Act to prohibit lead shot within condor habitat.
Next Hearing: Senate Appropriations. July 16 (that’s TODAY!). NO TIME FOR MAIL, YOU NEED TO CALL. Tell them 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.
Next Hearing: Senate Appropriations. No date. Tell the legislators 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.
Next Hearing: Senate Appropriations. No date. Tell them 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 449.

*** 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.
Next Hearing: Senate Floor. No date. All rodeos should be regulated equally and all the animals deserve equal protection and veterinary care.

SOME OF THE BILLS MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE 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.
Next Hearing: Passed Senate and Assembly. 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.
Next Hearing: Assembly Floor. Tell your Assemblymember and Governor Arnold Schwarznegger kangaroos need California’s continued protection from cruel killing and the danger of killing/importing endangered species of kangaroo. 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. (Kangaroo skin shoes?)

*** California Budget re: Fish and Game Wardens
Requests $3 million to fund “relocating and expanding the Warden Academy, improving the warden hiring system and pay for overtime.” It will not be spent on hiring additional wardens.
Next Hearing: Tell Governor Schwarzenegger wildlife depend on the enforcement of hunting, trapping, and fishing laws and the protection of endangered wildlife and wildlife in captivity. Fish and Game wardens are underpaid and understaffed.

CALIFORNIA FISH & GAME COMMISSION
1416 9th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

*** Turtles and Frogs in Live Animal Markets.
In August 2006 the Commission voted to “go to notice” to pass a regulation to prohibit the importation of turtles and frogs. But no action has been taken.
Write: California Fish & Game Commission. Tell them to protect our native wildlife from non-native turtles and frogs who are imported by the hundreds of thousands and commonly released depleting populations of native wildlife such as the Western Pond Turtle and the Red Legged Frog.

Many thanks to Virginia Handley of PawPAC* for compiling this information.
*PawPAC is California’s Political Action Committee for Animals. You can reach PawPAC at 415-646-0622; info@pawpac.org; http://www.pawpac.org

You can obtain official legislative information on ALL bills by going to this web site: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html. By entering the number of the bill, you can access the bill text, status, committee analysis and roll call votes.

NOTE: Your non tax deductible donation to Paw PAC, PO Box 475012, San Francisco, California 94147 helps makes these alerts possible. Thanks for caring.

On-call vets to treat injured animals at rodeos
I just received this letter from my friend Eric Mills of ACTION FOR ANIMALS, who is the sponsor of AB 1614. Eric has been working hard for ages to try and make sure veterinarians are always present or on-call at rodeos so they can treat the animals that are frequently injured at such events. He has done a good job on this legislation, but needs to get one more little bill passed (AB 1614) so that charreadas (Mexican-style rodeos) will also be included in the veterinarian requirement.

Here’s what Eric has to say on the matter. He also asks for some letter writing support at the end of his letter. If you care about the welfare of animals, please take a few moments to write one of those letters. It will REALLY help! Thanks. /Gary

Dear animal person:
Anyone concerned about the welfare of animals used in rodeos and charreadas (Mexican-style rodeos) will be pleased to learn that Assembly Bill 1614 recently passed the Assembly floor by a 60:7 vote. If signed into law, the bill would amend state rodeo law (Penal Code 596.7) so as to include charreadas, now exempt by definition. The main purpose of the law is to provide for an “on call” veterinarian to treat injured animals. Seems little to ask, no?

This humane legislation, introduced by Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (R-Moorpark), is co-authored by Assembly members Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys), Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and Joe Coto (D-San Jose). Mr. Coto is also chair of the 26-member Latino Caucus.

It is rare in Sacramento politics for an animal welfare bill to enjoy such bipartisan support. In the 5/24 floor vote, with one abstention, all members of the Latino Caucus voted in favor of the bill, as did the majority of the Republican Caucus. Heartfelt thanks to them all. As the late Cesar Chavez wrote to me on 12/26/90, “Kindness and compassion toward all living things is a mark of a civilized society.” Words to live by.

AB 1614 now goes to the Senate, and people are urged to write their own State Senator in support of the bill. All state legislators may be written c/o The State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Eric Mills, coordinator, ACTION FOR ANIMALS, and sponsor of AB 1614