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We, the Undersigned, endorse the following petition:

Dog & Cat Owners Say No to AB 1634

Target: California Assembly
Sponsor: W. Ward
  • Signatures: 14,283
  • Goal: 1,000,000
  • Deadline: 4-6-2008
California Assembly Member Levine has introduced AB 1634, inappropriately named the “California Healthy Pets Act.”  The proposal requires all dogs and cats in California to be neutered by the age of four months, or their owners will face punitive fines and penalties.   

AB 1634 Is Bad Health Policy for Animals
– Neutering pets by the age of four months is poor health policy for many animals.  Modern veterinary research questions the propriety of neutering animals too early, due to concerns about adverse behavioral issues and increased risks of cancer and other diseases.  The decision whether to neuter a pet, or when, should be made by pet owners with the advice of their veterinarians, not by politicians. Pet lovers who believe neutering is not in their pet’s best interests may avoid other important health care, like vaccinations and periodic exams, because they fear the heavy penalties under this law.  This will be detrimental to public health if it deters the public from obtaining necessary rabies inoculations and reduce licensing compliance.   

No More Purebred Cats or Dogs in California
- The bill provides a complex exception for show animals that no cat or dog in California can meet.  For example, it requires that by the age of four months a cat or dog must have competed in a “legitimate show.”  Dogs must be at least SIX MONTHS of age to compete in sanctioned events so this is an impossible test to meet.  The proponents of AB 1634 have carefully crafted both versions of the proposal so that the future of show cats and dogs in California is doomed.   

Reputable Breeders Are Not the Problem
–Reputable breeders already adhere to national Codes of Ethics that requires that their “pet” offspring be neutered as a condition of sale and that their “show” offspring be developed as potential outstanding specimens of their breed.  Their offspring DO NOT become part of the abandoned animal population.   

California
Pet Buyers Will Be Harmed - AB 1634 will cause fewer good quality pets to be available from California breeders to California pet buyers, but it will not diminish the public's demand for pets.  By discouraging local breeders, the demand will be met from other sources.  Some California shelters are already importing pets from overseas for adoption and puppies are smuggled into California from Mexico every day to meet current demand.    

Unwanted Pet Population Will Not Be Reduced
– Most owned cats are sterilized, as high as 92% in some studies.  Many of the cats euthanized by shelters come from the free roaming/unowned cat population.  These wild, unowned cats will not be affected by a new law.  Reputable dog breeders reclaim their unwanted or abused offspring so they do not become part of the “unwanted pet” problem.  Dogs from irresponsible, often out-of-state, breeders too often end up unwanted and euthanized.  Those breeders will not be subject to, or comply with, any new law. 

This Law Will Burden Local Shelters -
AB 1634 is an unfunded mandate on local government.  It will only further burden counties and municipalities and divert limited resources that would be better utilized elsewhere. The cost of enforcement will be high and California taxpayers will ultimately pay for this legislation.  Jurisdictions that have imposed unaltered dog/cat licensing and breeder permits have found them to be costly and unenforceable. 

You can read the complete proposals by clicking here:  Original Bill  or  Proposed Revised Bill  Read the language carefully, it is tricky, especially the so-called exceptions.


Read what others have to say about AB 1634 and check for updates.  California residents – see contact information for your representatives on these websites:
 

American Kennel Club
The Cat Fancier's Association, Inc.
Alley Cat Allies
Save Our Dogs
The Animal Council


Please sign our petition to oppose this Draconian proposal.  We, the undersigned, oppose California AB 1634 and ask the members of the California State Assembly to vote against the bill.


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Display in public list as "Anonymous"
Number Date Name State Country
14,299 7:43 am PDT, Sep 4 niarica lubatti   Italy
14,298 4:39 pm PDT, Sep 2 Anonymous   France
14,297 10:54 pm PDT, Aug 25 Tristan Davis California United States
14,296 4:02 pm PDT, Aug 25 Heather Appleman California United States
14,295 2:38 pm PDT, Aug 25 Samantha D'Esposito New York United States
14,294 2:57 pm PDT, Aug 23 Geneve Kashnig Colorado United States
14,293 1:37 pm PDT, Aug 21 Anonymous California United States
14,292 1:08 pm PDT, Aug 21 Don Williams California United States
14,291 7:33 pm PDT, Aug 15 Amanda Miller Alabama United States
14,290 10:35 pm PDT, Aug 9 Kim Keister California United States
14,289 11:55 am PDT, Aug 8 Douglas Ramsey California United States
14,288 10:55 am PDT, Aug 7 Nan Hoback California United States
14,287 1:23 pm PDT, Aug 6 Anonymous Florida United States
14,286 11:29 am PDT, Aug 3 Jamie M Chenoweth California United States
14,285 10:14 am PDT, Jul 27 Roxanne Helder Michigan United States
14,284 2:52 pm PDT, Jul 24 Anonymous California United States
14,283 3:16 am PDT, Jul 23 Anonymous California United States
14,282 4:58 am PDT, Jul 17 jasmine grewal   India
14,281 4:53 pm PDT, Jul 12 Treva Mccarty California United States
14,280 3:30 pm PDT, Jul 12 Michele McKee Indiana United States
14,279 8:47 am PDT, Jul 11 MIke McCormack California United States
14,278 1:57 pm PDT, Jul 10 Marcia Hodes California United States
14,277 10:19 pm PDT, Jul 9 Anonymous California United States
14,276 3:10 pm PDT, Jul 9 Anonymous California United States
14,275 3:06 pm PDT, Jul 9 Krista Lang California United States
14,274 9:30 pm PDT, Jul 8 Shay Cook California United States
14,273 12:19 pm PDT, Jul 7 niarica lubatti   Italy
14,272 2:19 pm PDT, Jul 6 Anonymous California United States
14,271 12:10 pm PDT, Jul 2 Susan Wiens California United States
14,270 8:19 pm PDT, Jul 1 sandra machado California United States
14,269 3:53 pm PDT, Jun 30 Tina McCraw California United States
14,268 1:29 pm PDT, Jun 30 Anonymous California United States
14,267 8:12 pm PDT, Jun 29 Seth Stern New Jersey United States
14,266 5:41 pm PDT, Jun 28 China Niemann Nevada United States
14,265 5:15 pm PDT, Jun 28 Renee Miller California United States
14,264 12:48 pm PDT, Jun 28 Anonymous California United States
14,263 1:09 pm PDT, Jun 26 lalla stark California United States
14,262 5:39 pm PDT, Jun 25 Brittany Flanagin California United States
14,261 9:21 am PDT, Jun 25 Jessica Van Dyke Iowa United States
14,260 3:06 pm PDT, Jun 21 Ellen Burns New Jersey United States
14,259 10:09 am PDT, Jun 13 Marie Libby Texas United States
14,258 11:26 am PDT, Jun 8 Alexandra Haverdink Michigan United States
14,257 10:13 am PDT, Jun 6 Anonymous California United States
14,256 2:04 pm PDT, Jun 4 Anonymous Texas United States
14,255 3:50 pm PDT, May 27 Judith Beall California United States
14,254 2:46 pm PDT, May 22 Faye Louise   United Kingdom
14,253 5:03 pm PDT, Apr 29 Kelsey G. Josi Oregon United States
14,252 7:34 pm PDT, Apr 20 Anonymous California United States
14,251 4:45 pm PDT, Apr 12 Anonymous California United States

Dog & Cat Owners Say No to AB 1634

California Assembly Member Levine has introduced AB 1634, inappropriately named the “California Healthy Pets Act.”  The proposal requires all dogs and cats in California to be neutered by the age of four months, or their owners will face punitive fines and penalties.   

AB 1634 Is Bad Health Policy for Animals
– Neutering pets by the age of four months is poor health policy for many animals.  Modern veterinary research questions the propriety of neutering animals too early, due to concerns about adverse behavioral issues and increased risks of cancer and other diseases.  The decision whether to neuter a pet, or when, should be made by pet owners with the advice of their veterinarians, not by politicians. Pet lovers who believe neutering is not in their pet’s best interests may avoid other important health care, like vaccinations and periodic exams, because they fear the heavy penalties under this law.  This will be detrimental to public health if it deters the public from obtaining necessary rabies inoculations and reduce licensing compliance.   

No More Purebred Cats or Dogs in California
- The bill provides a complex exception for show animals that no cat or dog in California can meet.  For example, it requires that by the age of four months a cat or dog must have competed in a “legitimate show.”  Dogs must be at least SIX MONTHS of age to compete in sanctioned events so this is an impossible test to meet.  The proponents of AB 1634 have carefully crafted both versions of the proposal so that the future of show cats and dogs in California is doomed.   

Reputable Breeders Are Not the Problem
–Reputable breeders already adhere to national Codes of Ethics that requires that their “pet” offspring be neutered as a condition of sale and that their “show” offspring be developed as potential outstanding specimens of their breed.  Their offspring DO NOT become part of the abandoned animal population.   

California
Pet Buyers Will Be Harmed - AB 1634 will cause fewer good quality pets to be available from California breeders to California pet buyers, but it will not diminish the public's demand for pets.  By discouraging local breeders, the demand will be met from other sources.  Some California shelters are already importing pets from overseas for adoption and puppies are smuggled into California from Mexico every day to meet current demand.    

Unwanted Pet Population Will Not Be Reduced
– Most owned cats are sterilized, as high as 92% in some studies.  Many of the cats euthanized by shelters come from the free roaming/unowned cat population.  These wild, unowned cats will not be affected by a new law.  Reputable dog breeders reclaim their unwanted or abused offspring so they do not become part of the “unwanted pet” problem.  Dogs from irresponsible, often out-of-state, breeders too often end up unwanted and euthanized.  Those breeders will not be subject to, or comply with, any new law. 

This Law Will Burden Local Shelters -
AB 1634 is an unfunded mandate on local government.  It will only further burden counties and municipalities and divert limited resources that would be better utilized elsewhere. The cost of enforcement will be high and California taxpayers will ultimately pay for this legislation.  Jurisdictions that have imposed unaltered dog/cat licensing and breeder permits have found them to be costly and unenforceable. 

You can read the complete proposals by clicking here:  Original Bill  or  Proposed Revised Bill
  Read the language carefully, it is tricky, especially the so-called exceptions.

Read what others have to say about AB 1634 and check for updates.  California residents – see contact information for your representatives on these websites:
 

American Kennel Club
The Cat Fancier's Association, Inc. 
Alley Cat Allies
Save Our Dogs
The Animal Council

Please sign our petition to oppose this Draconian proposal.
   We, the undersigned, oppose California AB 1634 and ask the members of the California State Assembly to vote against the bill.

If you want to help even more, write a letter, send a FAX or send an email in opposition to AB 1634.  You can register your opposition by contacting members of the California Legislature .

Thank you for taking the time to protect our pets.

Note: This Dog & Cat Owners Say No to AB 1634 petition was submitted by W. Ward. ThePetitionSite.com is a free service provided to help concerned citizens rally support for issues they believe in. The opinions expressed by this petition do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ThePetitionSite.com or Care2.com. There is no express or implied endorsement of this petition nor any newsletter offers (except those from Care2.com) by Care2.com, Inc, ThePetitionSite.com, or our sponsors. If you believe this system is being abused, please contact customer support.

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