From: wheeler@SUPER.ORG (Ferrell S. Wheeler)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.animals
Subject: Legislative Alert
Date: 30 Jul 92 23:23:12 GMT



The Fund for Animals, Inc.
808 Alamo Drive, Suite 306
Vacaville, CA  95688
(707) 451-1306
 
                   LEGISLATIVE ALERT - July 1992
 
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS:
 
ISSUE:  AB 3088 by Assemblyman Jack O'Connell
 
POSITION:  Strongly support
 
WHAT DOES THE BILL DO:  AB 3088 will help to reduce the dog and cat
overpopulation by strengthening the existing law relating to animal shelter
spay/neuter deposits.
 
WHY AB 3088 IS IMPORTANT:  In the United States, approximately 12 million
unwanted cats and dogs are killed each year, costing millions of dollars for
animal control.  Assemblyman O'Connell's bill has four important components
that will help to reduce the number of animals killed in our shelters.
 
(1)  Increases the spay/neuter rate of animals adopted from shelters.
Currently, all shelters must either spay/neuter animals before they leave
their facility or collect deposits for spaying/neutering of dogs and cats
that are adopted.  However, there is no requirement that the new guardian
has to have the animal sterilized. In other words, animal shelters have no
means to insure that the new guardian will follow through and get the animal
altered.  Surprisingly, a large percentage of people who adopt from shelters
and pay their spay/neuter deposit, do NOT get their animal altered. If AB
3088 passes, animal shelters will be able to issue a citation (an infraction
punishable by a fine up to $100) for failure to have a dog/cat sterilized
that was adopted from a public shelter, humane society or SPCA.
 
(2)  Shortens the length of time new adopters have to get their animal
sterilized.  Under AB 3088, people who adopt unsterilized animals from
shelters, will have just 60 days (regardless of the animal's age at the time
of adoption) to get their new companion altered.
 
(3)  Clarifies how unused spay/neuter deposits can be spent.  The Report by
the Auditor General, published May, 1991 disclosed that some animal shelters
are not spending the unclaimed spay/neuter deposits in the manner mandated
by law.  State law requires all unclaimed deposits to be used for education
programs on overpopulation, spay/neuter programs, follow-up programs to
insure animals adopted from shelters get sterilized, or for costs incurred
to administer the program.  Assemblyman O'Connell's bill helps to further
clarify how the unused deposits can be spent.
 
(4)  Requires pet stores to distribute spay and neuter literature. When pet
stores sell dogs and cats they will have to begin distributing literature
which explains the serious companion animal overpopulation problem and
outlines the benefits of spaying and neutering dogs and cats.
 
STATUS:  AB 3088 has passed the House and is on its home stretch! It will be
heard on the Senate Floor after our legislature returns from summer recess.
_Please make sure your Senator receives your letter by mid-August_. After it
passes the floor, it will go to the Governor for his signature.
 
ACTION NEEDED:  Please write your senator _immediately_.  If you do not know
who your senator is, contact The Fund office at 707/451-1306 and we can
readily provide you with that information.
 
SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:  Your Senator, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.
 
                     + + + + + + + + + +
 
FEDERAL LEGISLATION:
 
     THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES NEED YOUR HELP NOW!
 
ISSUE:  HR 4045, The Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1992.
 
WHY HR 4045 IS IMPORTANT:  The Endangered Species Act, perhaps the strongest
environmental legislation ever enacted by Congress, is up for
reauthorization.   This bill would not only reauthorize the Endangered
Species Act, but also add strengthening amendments to protect ecosystems and
to help species recover from the brink.
 
STATUS:  This Act will be under attack in Congress by special interest
groups.
 
ACTION NEEDED:  We must enlist House cosponsors of HR 4045.
 
SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:  Please write to your representative and ask him/her
to support HR 4045 with no weakening amendments.  Your Congressperson can be
addressed as The Honorable _______, U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC  20515.  (Note:  if you do not know who your congressperson
is, contact The Fund office and we will provide you with their name.)
 
The following representatives have already signed on as cosponsors of this
bill and should be thanked for their strong support: Beilenson, Berman,
Boxer, Brown, Dellums, Edwards, Lantos, Miller, Mineta, Panetta, Pelosi,
Roybal, Stark, Torres, and Waxman.
 



Newsgroups: talk.politics.animals