[ SHOWGSD-L ] CFA<>ALERT SB 250 Mandatory Sterlization of Cats and Dogs
- From: stormy435 <stormy435@xxxxxxx>
- To: "showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:05:23 -0700
Legislative ALERT ? CALIFORNIA SB 250
Mandatory Sterlization of Cats and Dogs
The Cat Fanciers? Association
George Eigenhauser
CFA Legislative Coordinator
Forwarding is encouraged
BRIEF SUMMATION: This bill mandates sterilization of most dogs and all outdoor
cats in California. It also mandates sterilization of owned cats if found in
violation of the bill's provisions, if impounded, or if found at large. By
creating new crimes and imposing new duties on local animal control agencies,
this bill would impose a state-mandated local program upon local governments.
CURRENT STATUS: The bill has passed the California Senate Local Government
Committee. It was amended on April 21, 2009 and will be heard by the Senate
Appropriations Committee on May 4, 2009 at 10:00 a.m..
IMMEDIATE ACTION IS NEEDED
Club/organizations and individuals write to the Senate
Appropriations committee members.
California fanciers should visit or write their own state Senators
and Representatives to inform them you are opposed to this bill.
WHAT THIS LEGISLATION WILL MEAN TO YOU AND ARGUMENTS AGAINST THIS LEGISLATION:
See the previous CFA Action Alerts dated March 12, 2009 and April 2,
2009: http://www.cfa.org/exhibitors/alert-CA-SB250-031209.pdf
http://www.cfa.org/exhibitors/alert-CA-SB250-040209.pdf
ACTION TO TAKE:
ORGANIZATIONS (clubs, rescue groups, etc.) must write to the committee members
immediately ? there is not much time!! Send your letter BY MAIL to be received
by the Committee Consultant, Mark McKenzie. He will be preparing the bill
analysis for the committee.
INDIVIDUALS NOTE: It is important for individuals to send opposition to the
committee too.
In addition to the Committee Consultant, please also copy the thirteen
Appropriations Committee members and as a courtesy copy the bill's author,
Senator Dean Florez.
1) Send your letters on Organization or Club letterhead. Mail or fax - hard
copy is important.
2) Reference the title - " Re: OPPOSE SB 250 as amended 4/21/09
An act to add Section 30804.6
to the Food and
Agricultural Code, relating to
animals.
3) Begin your letter by stating that your club (state name) is OPPOSED to SB
250 as amended April 21, 2009. If you are an out of state breed clubs with
members in California, please be sure to note that fact.
4) Don't worry too much about substance; the goal is to express your
opposition. One page is ideal ? 2 pages are OK.
5) Put comments in your own words so the letters do not appear to be
?form?. You may use the samples below - make only a few brief points. If you
would like more suggested points please look at the previous CFA Action Alerts.
6) Conclude your letter by again stating your opposition to the Bill; thank
the Senator for his/her time and ask for a NO vote on SB 250.
IN ADDITION TO THE COMMITTEE, NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS TO BEGIN
CONTACTING THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO EXPRESS YOUR OPPOSITION.
Please visit their district offices [in you area] call, fax and write them. To
find out your state senator or assemblyman,
visit: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html This link can be used to find
the names of your representatives as well as contact information.
SUGGESTED POINTS ? cat issues:
** SB 250 provides that anyone providing "care, security, or sustenance" for a
stray on their property for 30 days becomes its ?custodian? subject to all of
the punitive effects of the bill. Thus a casual feeder or caretaker of a stray
cat may be fined if the animal is unspayed or unneutered, and is subject to
fines and penalties if the stray cat is impounded. Imposing fines or other
punitive measures tends to discourage otherwise caring individuals from coming
to the aid of unowned/feral cats. Reproduction of unowned intact cats will
escalate.
** SB 250 is an unfunded mandate on local government. Feral cats and unweaned
kittens make up the majority of cat intakes at many shelters. If casual
feeders are forced to surrender stray cats to animal control, this will
increase euthanazia and costs for local shelters. It will only further burden
the counties and municipalities and divert limited resources that would be
better utilized elsewhere.
** Often free-roaming cats are considered to be ?loosely owned.? The important
factor in reducing the reproduction of unowned/free-roaming cats is the point
when a person declares ?I own this cat? because this leads to their taking
responsibility. People understand that ownership means responsibility. I love
my cat-- I own my cat. Education as to ownership has helped reduce euthanasia,
and shelter costs, over the years. This bill would use the artificial term
"custodian" to describe some casual feeders. This is a step backward in the
goal of elevating the status of the cat by accepting ownership.
** Often those who offer sustenance to neighborhood cats or restaurant area
cats are not sure if they are owned or intact. The may be incapable of
accounting for each cat, ascertaining ages or physically getting every cat
altered within 30 days. Each jurisdiction would need to implement some kind of
assistance program.
** An owner/custodian who offers any cat for sale, trade or adoption SHALL
notify the licensing agency if cats are licensed in the jurisdiction within 10
days. This is unnecessary administrative expense when cats may be sold to
persons in other parts of the State or out of state. Jurisdictions would be
required to educate the public, answer questions, provide a reporting form and
follow through even if kittens are transferred prior to licensing age.
** Cat owners with a valuable pedigreed unaltered cat impounded due to a
mishap, fire or other disaster must be sterilized ? this will lead to
litigation with expense for the local jurisdiction.
** Local jurisdictions, 58 counties and 480 cities, do not all have ordinances
or programs regarding free-roaming cats. SB 250 would require them to
implement some program including ordinance revisions and public education and
some kind of enforcement.
PLANNED HEARING: The Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to take up
SB 250 on May 4, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 4203. Please act promptly.
CONTACT LIST: Contact information for the Senate Local Government committee,
the committee consultant, and the bill's author are as follows:
Senate Appropriations Committee
ATTN: Mark Mc Kenzie, Consultant
State Capitol Room 2206
Sacramento, CA 95814
(They do not accept position letters by fax)
Author:
SENATOR DEAN FLOREZ
State Capitol, Room 313
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 327-5989
Senate Appropriation Committee Members:
SENATOR CHRISTINE KEHOE (Chair)
State Capitol, Room 5050
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4039
Fax: (916) 327-2188
SENATOR DAVE COX (Vice Chair)
State Capitol, Room 2068
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4001
Fax: (916) 324-2680
SENATOR ELLEN CORBETT
State Capitol, Room 5108
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4010
Fax: (916) 327-2433
SENATOR JEFF DENHAM
State Capitol, Room 3076
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4012
Fax: (916) 445-0773
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER
State Capitol, Room 2054
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4007
Fax: (916) 445-2527
SENATOR LONI HANCOCK
State Capitol, Room 3092
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4009
Fax: (916) 327-1997
SENATOR MARK LENO
State Capitol, Room 4061
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4003
Fax: (916) 445-4722
SENATOR JENNY OROPEZA
State Capitol, Room 5114
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4028
Fax: (916) 323-6056
SENATOR GEORGE RUNNER
State Capitol, Room 4090
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4017
Fax: (916) 445-4662
SENATOR MIMI WALTERS
State Capitol, Room 3082
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4033
Fax: (916) 445-9754
SENATOR LOIS WOLK
State Capitol, Room 4032
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4005
Fax: (916) 323-2304
SENATOR MARK WYLAND
State Capitol, Room 4048
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4038
Fax: (916) 446-7382
SENATOR LELAND YEE
State Capitol, Room 4074
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4008
Fax: (916) 327-2186
--
Stormy Hope
www.carpoc.org
AKC Legislative Liaison, GSDCA
Sunshine Squad <showgsd.org/sunshine.html)
GSDs and more
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