SCIL Announces
SB 250 The Pet Responsibility Act of 2009
February 24, 2009

New legislation aims to reduce pet overpopulation
and euthanasia in California

Each year, over $250 million dollars is spent housing and euthanizing homeless dogs and cats in California¹. Approximately 1 million dogs and cats enter California’s shelters each year, and over half of them are euthanized (killed) simply because there are not enough homes².

This enormous number of homeless pets actually means that every dog born in the state of California today has nearly a 1 in 4 chance of ultimately becoming homeless and dying in a shelter³. Two-thirds of the cats entering California shelters are euthanized². And, the number of dogs and cats entering our shelters is currently on the rise².

SB 250 provides a reasonable, fiscally responsible step towards reducing pet overpopulation in California. The bill simply requires that dogs be spayed or neutered unless their owner/guardian obtains an unaltered dog license when they license their animal.

For more information visit www.YESonSB250.com.

Sources: (1) Shelter cost estimates provided by Los Angeles Animals Services and California Animal Control Directors Association. (2) Population / percentages of animals incoming and exiting shelters, source: California Department of Public Health, Veterinary Public Health Section, “Rabies Control Activities Reporting by Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ), California, 1995-2007, extrapolated to encompass incomplete data and private shelters. (3) From NEARLY ONE OUT OF FOUR DOGS IN CALIFORNIA IS ULTIMATELY EUTHANIZED IN OUR SHELTERS, a SCIL fact sheet based on figures from the US Census Bureau, American Pet Products Manufacturers Association and the California Department of Health Services. (4) Shelter intake and euthanasia numbers provided by Santa Cruz County Animal Services.

SCIL Announces
AB 241 The Responsible Breeder Act of 2009
February 12, 2009

New legislation targets puppy mills in California

Social Compassion in Legislation is proud to announce the introduction of AB 241 The Responsible Breeder Act, which will help law enforcement in California get tough with the inhumane, overcrowded mass breeding facilities known as "puppy mills".

Puppy mills contribute to pet overpopulation by churning out thousands of puppies a year that are typically sold in pet stores to “impulse buyers”, often have health problems and all too frequently ultimately end up in shelters.