[ SHOWGSD-L ] UPDATE: CA SB 914 PUPPY SALE CRIME, MORE 5/22/05
- From: "Sharon Allbright" <sharlen@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 23 May 2005 05:41:03 -0700
BRIEFLY NOTED: Palo Alto, California Daily News Executive Editor Diana
Diamond announced a policy to ban Pit Bulls from the "Pet of the Week"
column supplied by Palo Alto Animal Services featuring pets available at
their shelter. After criticism, Ms. Drummond dug in her heels and
threatened to expand her ban to other breeds, including Rottweilers, and
wished there could be a Denver-type ban in Palo Alto (protected by the
state preemption.) Daily News, 324 Gunn St., Palo Alto CA 94301. Phone
650-327-9090; Fax 650-327-0676 <http://www.dailynewsgroup.com>
*****
CALIFORNIA SB 914 by Senator Christine Kehoe (D-39) of San Diego, co-author
Assembly Member Mark Wyland (R-74) of Vista to create a new misdemeanor
crime of animal cruelty for sale of a dog under 8 weeks without written
authorization of a California licensed veterinarian was amended again on
May 9, made an expedited trip through Senate Appropriations and is now on
the Senate Floor and reads as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 597z is added to the Penal Code, to read:
(a) Except as otherwise authorized under any other provision of
law, it shall be crime, punishable as specified in subdivision (b) , for
any person to sell one or more dogs under eight weeks of age, unless that
sale is approved by a veterinarian licensed to practice in California as
evidenced by written documentation.
(b) Any person who violates this section shall be punished as
follows:
(1) A first offense shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of one
hundred twenty-five dollars ($125).
(2) A second offense shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of two
hundred fifty dollars ($250).
(3) A third or subsequent offense shall be a misdemeanor.
(c) With respect to the sale of two or more dogs in violation of
this section, each dog unlawfully sold shall represent a separate offense
under this section.
(d) This section shall not apply to any of the
following:
(1) An organization, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code, or any other organization that provides, or
contracts to provide, services as a public animal sheltering agency.
(2) A pet dealer as defined under Article 2 (commencing with Section
122125) of Chapter 5 of Part 6 of Division 105 of the Health and Safety
Code.
(3) A public animal control agency or shelter, society for the
prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue
group regulated under Division 14 (commencing with Section 30501) of the
Food and Agricultural Code.
SEC. 2.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of
Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that
may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred
because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or
infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the
meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition
of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the
California Constitution.
THE MAY 9 AMENDMENTS changed the offense classifications and punishments,
but these are still crimes of animal cruelty. Previously, any violation
was a misdemeanor with punishment limited to no more than a $1,000 fine
and no jail time, having amended the introduced version classifying ALL
offenses as misdemeanors. Now, the first 2 sales of a puppy under 8 weeks
without written CA vet authorization for sale are infractions. To
understand these distinctions, Penal Code Section 19.6 provides:
"19.6. An infraction is not punishable by imprisonment. A person charged
with an infraction shall not be entitled to a trial by jury. A person
charged with an infraction shall not be entitled to have the public
defender or other counsel appointed at public expense to represent him or
her unless he or she is arrested and not released on his or her written
promise to appear, his or her own recognizance, or a deposit of bail."
However, the 3rd dog sold triggers a misdemeanor subject to Penal Code
Section 19 as follows:
"19. Except in cases where a different punishment is prescribed by any law
of this state, every offense declared to be a misdemeanor is punishable by
imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by fine not
exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both."
Other aspects of criminal procedure and a resulting criminal conviction for
animal abuse would apply. For a person employed in the animal field,
holding any type of permit or license related to animals or many other
types personal or professional status qualification, this type of criminal
conviction is a bar.
The troubling aspect of SB 914 is the likelihood that people unaware of
these arbitrary standards of 8 weeks, written CA vet authorization and
number of sales would commit crimes without harm but serious personal
consequence. The author is aware of this potential and has tried to narrow
the bill, but the sponsoring Doris Day Animal League and some animal
control and humane interests in San Diego and Ventura counties demanded a
state crime to address what they describe as smuggling 2-6 week old puppies
of toy breeds weighing under one pound across the Mexican border. Other
supporters at the April 25 Senate policy committee hearing merely repeated
that 8 weeks is the "gold standard" minimum age. Of course, none were
breeders. The opposition was from hunting dog interests asking for either
an exception for their dogs or lower age to accommodate their ideal of 6-7
weeks.
Enforcement of the current bill would put unknowing California breeders in
criminal jeopardy for sales of dogs that can be safely sold at less than 8
weeks, while its effectiveness at stopping smuggling of extremely fragile,
young puppies is speculative. The reason for this trafficking is the
perceived demand for small breed pet puppies in the Southern California
market that is not filled locally. For years, we argued that increasing
anti-breeder measures result in this: it is simple economics. Toy breed
puppies and even older dogs are fragile under the best conditions yet are
desired as pets in numbers greater than local breeders can or will supply.
SB 914 has grown closer to but still does not balance the public health
interests against those of California residents who do supply all types of
puppies for local buyers and should not be thrown into the criminal justice
system for what now could be harmless procedural omissions.
SB 914 is now on the Senate Floor, and bills must pass out of the house of
origin no later than Tuesday, June 3. Reference the bill as "SB 914, An
act to add Section 597z to the Penal Code, relating to animals, as amended
May 9, 2005.
Contact information for Senate members and authors follows. The Senate
members link page is
<http://www.sen.ca.gov/~newsen/senators/senators.htp>
The Honorable Samuel Aanestad (R-4) Grass Valley
State Capitol, Room 2054
Sacramento CA 95814
Fax: 916-445-7750
Phone: (916) 445-3353
Senator.Aanestad@xxxxxxxxxx
http://republican.sen.ca.gov/web/4/feed.asp
Dick Ackerman (R-33) Tustin MINORITY LEADER
State Capitol, Room 4066
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-4264
Fax 916-445-9754
Senator.Ackerman@xxxxxxxxxx
Richard Alarcón (D-20) Van Nuys
State Capitol, Room 4035
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-7928
Fax 916-324-6645
Senator.Alarcón@xxxxxxxxxx
Elaine Alquist (D-13) San Jose
State Capitol, Room 5108
Sacramento, CA
916-445-9740
Fax 916-324-0283
Senator.Alquist@xxxxxxxxxx
Roy Ashburn (R-18) Bakersfield
State Capitol, Room 2068
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-5405
Fax 916-322-3304
Senator.Ashburn@xxxxxxxxxx
James Battin (R-37) Moreno Valley
State Capitol, Room 3076
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916)445-5581
Fax 916-327-2187
Senator.Battin@xxxxxxxxxx
Debra Bowen (D-28) Redondo Beach
State Capitol, Room 4040
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-5953
Fax 916-323-6056
Senator.Bowen@xxxxxxxxxx
Senator John Campbell (R-35) Irvine
State Capitol, Room 3056
Sacramento CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-4961
Fax: 916-445-9263
Senator.campbell@xxxxxxxxxx
Gilbert Cedillo (D-22) Los Angeles
State Capitol, Room 3048
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-3456
Fax 916-327-8817
Senator.Cedillo@xxxxxxxxxx
Wesley Chesbro (D-2) Arcata
State Capitol, Room 5100
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-3375
Fax 916-323-6958
Senator.Chesbro@xxxxxxxxxx
Dave Cox (D-1) Sacramento
State Capitol, Room 5064
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-5788
Fax 916-324-2680
Senator.Cox@xxxxxxxxxx
Jeff Denham (D-12) Modesto
State Capitol, Room 4062
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-1392
Fax 916-445-0773
Senator.Denham@xxxxxxxxxx
Denise Moreno Ducheny (D-40) San Diego
State Capitol, Room 2062
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-6767
Fax 916-327-3522
Senator.Ducheny@xxxxxxxxxx
Joseph Dunn (D-34) Garden Grove
State Capitol, Room 2080
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-5831
Fax 916-323-2323
Senator.Dunn@xxxxxxxxxx
Dutton, Robert (R-31) Rancho Cucamonga
State Capitol, Room 5082
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-3688
Fax 916-327-2272
Senator.Dutton@xxxxxxxxxx
Martha Escutia (D-30) Montebellow
State Capitol, Room 5080
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-3090
Fax 916-327-8755
Senator.Escutia@xxxxxxxxxx
Senator Liz Figueroa (D-10) Fremont
State Capitol, Room 4061
Sacramento CA 95814
(916) 445-6671 phone
(916) 327-2433 fax
Senator.Figueroa@xxxxxxxxxx
Senator Dean Florez (D-16) Fresno
State Capitol, Room 5061
Sacramento CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-4641
Fax (916) 327-5989
Senator.Florez@xxxxxxxxxx
Dennis Hollingsworth (R-36) Murietta
State Capitol, Room 2048
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-9781
Fax 916-447-9008
Senator.Hollingsworth@xxxxxxxxxx
Senator Christine Kehoe (D-39) San Diego - AUTHOR
State Capitol, Room 5050
Sacramento CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-3952
Fax: 916-327-2188
Senator.Kehoe@xxxxxxxxxx
Sheila Kuehl (D-23) Los Angeles
State Capitol, Room 4032
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-1353
Fax 916-445-8081
Senator.Kuehl@xxxxxxxxxx
Alan Lowenthal (D-27) Long Beach
State Capitol, Room 5066
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-6447
Fax 916-327-9113
Senator.Lowenthal@xxxxxxxxxx
Mike Machado (D-5) Stockton
State Capitol, Room 3086
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-2407
Fax 916-323-2304
Senator.Machado@xxxxxxxxxx
Bob Margett (R-29) Arcadia
State Capitol, Room 3082
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-2848
Fax 916-324-0922
Senator.Margett@xxxxxxxxxx
Abel Maldonado (R-15) Santa Maria
State Capitol, Room 4081
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-4843
Fax 916-445-8081
Senator.Maldonado@xxxxxxxxxx
Tom McClintock (R-19) Thousand Oaks
State Capitol, Room 3070
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-8873
Fax 916-324-7544
Senator.McClintock@xxxxxxxxxx
Carole Midgen (D-3) San Francisco
State Capitol, Room 205
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-1412
Fax 916-445-4722
Senator.Migden@xxxxxxxxxx
Senator Bill Morrow (R-38) Carlsbad
State Capitol, Room 4048
Sacramento CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-3731
Fax: 916-446-7382
Senator.Morrow@xxxxxxxxxx
Senator Kevin Murray (D-26)
State Capitol, Room 5050
Sacramento CA 95814
(916) 445-8800
Fax (916) 445-8899
Senator.Murray@xxxxxxxxxx
Deborah Ortiz (D-6) Sacramento
State Capitol, Room 5114
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-7807
Fax 916-323-2263
Senator.Ortiz@xxxxxxxxxx
Don Perata (D-9) Oakland President pro Tem
State Capitol, Room 313
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-6577
Fax 916-327-1997
Senator.Perata@xxxxxxxxxx
Charles Poochigian (D-14) Fresno
State Capitol, Room 5087
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-9600
Fax 916-327-3523
Senator.Poochigian@xxxxxxxxxx
Gloria Romero (D-24) Los Angeles Majority Leader
State Capitol, Room 5051
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-1418
Fax 916-445-0485
Senator.Romero@xxxxxxxxxx
George Runner (R-17) Palmdale
State Capitol, Room 4066
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-6637
Fax 916-445-4662
Senator.Runner@xxxxxxxxxx
Jack Scott (D-21) Pasadena
State Capitol, Room 2057
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-5976
Fax 916-324-7543
Senator.Scott@xxxxxxxxxx
Senator Joe Simitian (D-11) Palo Alto
State Capitol Room 4062
Sacramento CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-6747
Fax: (916) 323-4529
Senator.Simitian@xxxxxxxxxx
Nell Soto (D-32) Ontario
State Capitol, Room 4074
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-6868
Fax 916-445-0128
Senator.Soto@xxxxxxxxxx
Speier, Jackie (D-8) Hillsborough
State Capitol, Room 2032
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-0503
Fax 916-327-2186
Senator.Speier@xxxxxxxxxx
Tom Torlakson (D-7) Antioch
State Capitol, Room 5061
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-6083
Fax 916-445-2527
Senator.Torlakson@xxxxxxxxxx
Edward Vincent (D-25) Inglewood
State Capitol, Room 5052
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445-2104
Fax 916-445-3712
Senator.Vincent@xxxxxxxxxx
The Honorable Mark Wyland (R-74) Vista CO-AUTHOR
State Capitol, Room 4130
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0074
Phone (916) 319-2074
Fax (916) 319-2174
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