Assembly Appropriations Committee Approves "Do Pass With Amedndments" SB 250 ("Pet Responsibility Act") Which Would Restrict Ownership of Unsterilized Dogs/Cats & Require Surgical Sterilization of Animal in Specified Circumstances.
(August 27, 2009) -- In an action seen with live video as it happened via California Channel w/ embed on LBReport.com, the Assembly Appropriations Committee today approved as "do pass with amendments" SB 250 ("Pet Responsibility Act") by Senator Dean Florez (D., Bakersfield-Shafter), which would restrict ownership of unsterilized dogs and cats and requires surgical sterilization of the animal in specified circumstances.
Committee chair Assemblyman Kevin de Leon (D., Los Angeles) stated that the amendments would exempt "certain working dogs, such as guide dogs, herding dogs, hunting dogs and rescue dogs."
The bill cleared the committee on a party line vote (Dem support, Repub oppose, w/ Committee member Harkey not voting).
SB 250 now advances to the Assembly floor. It previously cleared the state Senate.
For bill details -- with provisions prior to today's indicated amendments -- see the Committee's legislative analysis of the measure, click here.]
Prior to today's amendments, the measure has drawn a lengthy, polarized list of supporters/opponents. Supporters include the City of LB (following voted City Council approval) and a number of LB area animal advocates. Opponents include the American Kennel Club. [lengthy pro/con list below]
As of June 30, the bill's supporters and opponents were:
SUPPORT
Social Compassion in Legislation (sponsor)
A Dog's Life Rescue
A New Hope Animal Foundation
A Passion for Paws Rescue, Inc.
All Creatures Animal Caring Society
American Tortoise Rescue
Angeldogs Foundation
Animal Advocates Alliance
Animal Alliance
Animal Birth Control Assistance
Animal Legal Defense Fund
Animal Shelter Assistance Program
Animal Shelter Relief Rescue
Animal Welfare Services for Atwater Village
Arf! We Go Pet Care
Bark Avenue Foundation
Basset Hound Rescue
Bay Area Bird Hospital
Bellflower Veterinary Hospital
Beverly Hills Police Department
Bichon Furkids Rescue
California Federation for Animal Legislation
Canine Canyon Ranch
Cat Cause Foundation
Cats at the Studio
Cats in Need
Central Valley Seekers
Chief of Police Richard J. Ehle, Jr., City of Capitola
City Attorney Rockard J. Delgadillo, City of Los Angeles
City of Bell Gardens
City of Fresno
City of Hayward Shelter Volunteers
City of Huntington Park
City of Lathrop, Animal Services Department
City of Long Beach Animal Care Services
City of Palm Desert
City of Richmond Police Department
City of Vallejo
City of Santa Rosa
City of Stockton Animal Control
City of West Hollywood
Community Concern for Cats in Contra Costa County
Contra Costa Animal Services - Volunteer
County of Lake, Department of Animal Care & Control
Delta Paws Animal Rescue
Dog Land Spay and Neuter
Dogs Run Free of Nevada County
Dogsindanger.com
East Bay Animal Advocates
Feral Cat Coalition
Fieldhaven Feline Rescue
Foundation for the Care of Indigent Animals
Friends of Auburn/Tahoe Vista, Placer County Animal Shelter
Friends of Long Beach Animals
Friends of Madera Animal Shelter
Furry Friends Rescue
Genesis Digital Art Studios
Golden State Humane Society
Happy Critters Guinea Pig Rescue
Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary
Haven of Hope Animal Sanctuary
Hayward Animal Services
Helping out Pets Everyday
Hits Magazine
Home at Last Animal Rescue
Husky Haven of LA
IAG Coffee Franchise, LLC
In Defense of Animals
It's the Pits Rescue
LA Yoga Ayurveda and Health Magazine
Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council
Lancaster Animal Shelter
League of Humane Voters
Long Beach Spay & Neuter Foundation
Madera County Animal Services
Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, City of Los Angeles
Mayor Keith Bohr, City of Huntington Beach
Mayor Maggie Houlihan, City of Encinitas
Muttville
Norcal Boxer Rescue
North Bay Animal Advocates
North Coast Animal Welfare Advocacy Center
Northern California Animal Rescue Friends
OCPoundhounds Small Breed Rescue
Pacific Yoga and Ayurveda
Pact, Inc.
PAL Humane Society
Paw Parent
Pawed
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Pet Rescue Center
Pet Sitters I.N.C.
Pet Welfare Proposition
Pets Lifeline, Inc.
Photo Research
Poinsie Pets
Pomeranian Rescue Group
Pooses & Pups Rescue
Positive Pet Parenting Saves Lives
Producers Guild of America
Propp Productions
Purrfect Partners Cat Adoptions
Re/Max Elite Team
Resqcats, Inc.
Resqpet Dog Rescue
Rosedale Animal Rescue
Safe Cat Foundation
Samson PR
San Diego Animal Support Foundation
San Diego House Rabbit Society
Santa Cruz SPCA
Save a Dog Today
Save Tehachapi's Orphaned Pets
Scooter's Pals
Seal Beach Animal Care Center
Seaside Realty
Second Chance Pet Adoptions
Self, Family and Furry Friends Rescue
Senior Citizens for Humane Legislation and Education
Sequoia Humane Society
Shelter Animal Advocacy Fund, LA
Shelter Pet Alliance
Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority
South County Animal Shelter Coalition
Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue
Southland Collie Rescue
Southwest Homes and Land
Stockton Police Department
Tails of the City
Take Me Home
The Catherine Fund
The Dog Squad Rescue, Inc.
The Pet Care Foundation
The Pet Place
The Reva Foundation
The Uncommon Canine, Inc.
Tooth Fairy Pet Care
UCLA People Animal Connection
United Action For Animals
Village Cat Club of Laguna Woods
Voice For the Animals Foundation
Weil Public Relations
Western University Vets for Spay and Neuter
What Animals Tell Us
Wildcare
Windansea Law
Yogafit Inc.
OPPOSITION
Alaskan Malamute Club of America
American Herding Breed Association
American Saluki Association
American Shih Tzu Club, Inc.
American Sighthound Field Association
Bloodhounds West Breed Rescue, Inc., Northern Chapter
Butte County Kennel Club, Inc.
California Airedale Terrier Club Incorporated
California Animal Control Directors Association
California Cattlemen's Association
California Chamber of Commerce
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Outdoor Heritage Alliance
Concerned Dog Owners of California
Dog Judges Association of America
Gold Country English Setter Fanciers
Golden Retriever Club
Golden Retriever Club of Greater Los Angeles
Miniature Schnauzer Club of Northern California
Northern California Siberian Husky Club, Inc.
Peninsula Australian Shepherd Association
PetPAC
Poodle Club of Central California
Saluki Club of America
San Angeles Saluki Club, Inc.
Social Compassion League
Southern California Alaskan Malamute Club
Tally Ho Dawg Walkin' Club
The Animal Council
The Roseville Dog Owners' Group
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America
Ventura County Dog Fanciers Association
Vilenzo
West Highland White Terrier Club of California
West Los Angeles Obedience Training Club, Inc.
Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, Inc.
Yosemite Kennel Club
