SUPPORT CALIFORNIA HEALTHY PETS ACT, AB1634
Dear Assemblymember,
Iím writing to you in SUPPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA HEALTHY PETS ACT, AB1634. Iím writing to you because the CA Healthy Pets Act will save millions of taxpayer dollars, save thousands of animalsí lives, and will promote greater operational efficiency in Californiaís shelters. Iím writing to you because spaying and neutering results in significant public health and safety benefits. Iím writing to you because the following data which supports this bill simply cannot be ignored by California taxpayers and legislators any longer:
The State of California spends almost three billion tax dollars every decade to house and euthanize excess animals.
The County of Los Angeles alone had to spend $159.2 million in taxpayer dollars in 2007 to expand its animal shelters in order to house the increasing number of homeless pets.
Unaltered dogs are three-times more likely to attack humans and other animals. California suffers the nationís highest occurrences of dog bites, animal attacks and attack-related fatalities in the nation; children are the most common victims.
An animal that is spayed or neutered has fewer health problems and therefore may require less veterinarian visits during their life.
The sheer number of unwanted animals requires that we kill healthy animals of all ages in our shelters. In some shelters neonate kittens (bottle fed) have among the highest euthanasia rates since there are not enough workers to take care of their special needs.
The City of Santa Cruz realized significant taxpayer savings when a similar ordinance was passed in 1995, with animal intake numbers dropping by well over 50%.
The opposition to this bill will argue that this Bill removes a citizenís right to breed animals; that this Bill will put an end to animals eligible for law enforcement and search and rescue duties; that this Bill will require citizens to spay or neuter their pets who are too elderly or ill to withstand the procedure. All of those arguments go directly against the provisions provided in AB1634. Please keep in mind that this law, if enacted, excludes the following:
Purebred dogs and cats whose guardians obtain a permit (animals must be registered with a recognized breeder association, such as the AKC).
Dogs that work as guide dogs, service dogs, or signal dogs.
Dogs that are used by law enforcement agencies for law enforcement or rescue activities.
Dogs and cats whose veterinarian determines that due to age, poor health, or illness, it is unsafe to spay or neuter them.
This law has no provisions for reporting or tracking litters. If your purebred animal has an intact permit, you may breed them as much as youíd like. Youíre just going to be required to purchase a permit; just like any other business.
The California Healthy Pets Act is a desperately needed step toward ending the pet over-population crisis in the State of California. Without your support of this Bill, California taxpayers will be forced to continue to financially support the ever-increasing number of homeless animals. Taxpayers will have no choice but to increase their fiscal contributions toward more shelters, increases in Animal Services staff, and the cost to euthanize millions of unwanted pets each year. Without your support of this Bill, California taxpayers will be forced to deal with the health and public safety consequences associated with an overabundance of un-neutered pets. And without your support of this Bill, millions of healthy animals will be needlessly euthanized every year.
On behalf of Californiaís taxpayers, I am requesting your RESPONSIBLE SUPPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA HEALTHY PETS ACT and thank you in advance for your consideration.