URGENT: CA BSL Passes Assembly - Help Needed In Senate
[Tuesday, August 23, 2005]
Yesterday morning, the California State Assembly passed SB 861 with a vote
of 56-19. The bill will now be voted on by the State Senate. It is imperative
that concerned dog owners immediately contact their State Senator and ask
them to oppose SB 861. To find out who represents you in the California
legislature, click here: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html.
The amended bill will allow local governments to enact breed-specific
ordinances pertaining to mandatory spay/neuter programs provided no specific breed
is declared potentially dangerous or vicious. SB 861 states that
"uncontrolled and irresponsible breeding of animals contributes to pet overpopulation,
inhumane treatment of animals, mass euthanasia at local shelters…this
irresponsible breeding also contributes to the production of defective animals that
present a public safety risk."
Should SB 861 pass, the impact on responsible dog owners, particularly
purebred fanciers who participate in conformation dog shows and responsible
breeding programs, will be devastating. The American Kennel Club, the California
Veterinary Medical Association, the Sacramento Council of Dog Clubs, The Animal
Council, and a host of other animal organizations strongly oppose SB 861,
but we urgently need more help!
Points to Address:
Breed-specific laws are not the best way to protect communities. An owner
intent on using his or her dogs for malicious purposes will simply be able to
switch to another type of dog and continue to jeopardize public safety. The
list of regulated breeds or types could grow every year without ever addressing
responsible dog ownership. Deeds, not breeds, should be addressed.
When properly enforced, California's existing dangerous dog law forces all
dog owners to be responsible regardless of the breed they own. Clear
guidelines for identifying and managing dangerous dogs will promote responsible dog
ownership and prevent tragedies from occurring. Simply placing restrictions on
certain breeds will not improve public safety - it will only punish
responsible dog owners.
Breed-specific laws are hard to enforce. Breed identification requires
expert knowledge of the individual breeds, placing great burden on local
officials.
Breed-specific laws are unfair to responsible owners.
Breed-specific laws increase costs for the community. Shelter costs for the
community could rise as citizens abandon targeted breeds and adoptable dogs
of the targeted breeds could be euthanized at the shelter.
Some communities have had their breed-specific laws overturned on
constitutional grounds. Because proper identification of what dogs would be included is
difficult or impossible, the law may be deemed unconstitutionally vague.
Strongly enforced animal control laws (such as leash laws), generic
guidelines on dealing with dangerous dogs and increased public education efforts to
promote responsible dog ownership are all better ways to protect communities
from dangerous animals.
Breed-specific legislation is opposed by the AKC, the American Veterinary
Medical Association, the National Animal Control Association, the ASPCA, and a
host of national animal welfare organizations that have studied the issue and
recognize that targeting breeds simply does not work.
AKC's Canine Legislation department
919-816-3720
[email protected]
Sacramento Council of Dog Clubs
Joan Gibson Reid, Corresponding Secretary
and Legislative Coordinator
[email protected]
The Animal Council
[email protected]
[Tuesday, August 23, 2005]
Yesterday morning, the California State Assembly passed SB 861 with a vote
of 56-19. The bill will now be voted on by the State Senate. It is imperative
that concerned dog owners immediately contact their State Senator and ask
them to oppose SB 861. To find out who represents you in the California
legislature, click here: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html.
The amended bill will allow local governments to enact breed-specific
ordinances pertaining to mandatory spay/neuter programs provided no specific breed
is declared potentially dangerous or vicious. SB 861 states that
"uncontrolled and irresponsible breeding of animals contributes to pet overpopulation,
inhumane treatment of animals, mass euthanasia at local shelters…this
irresponsible breeding also contributes to the production of defective animals that
present a public safety risk."
Should SB 861 pass, the impact on responsible dog owners, particularly
purebred fanciers who participate in conformation dog shows and responsible
breeding programs, will be devastating. The American Kennel Club, the California
Veterinary Medical Association, the Sacramento Council of Dog Clubs, The Animal
Council, and a host of other animal organizations strongly oppose SB 861,
but we urgently need more help!
Points to Address:
Breed-specific laws are not the best way to protect communities. An owner
intent on using his or her dogs for malicious purposes will simply be able to
switch to another type of dog and continue to jeopardize public safety. The
list of regulated breeds or types could grow every year without ever addressing
responsible dog ownership. Deeds, not breeds, should be addressed.
When properly enforced, California's existing dangerous dog law forces all
dog owners to be responsible regardless of the breed they own. Clear
guidelines for identifying and managing dangerous dogs will promote responsible dog
ownership and prevent tragedies from occurring. Simply placing restrictions on
certain breeds will not improve public safety - it will only punish
responsible dog owners.
Breed-specific laws are hard to enforce. Breed identification requires
expert knowledge of the individual breeds, placing great burden on local
officials.
Breed-specific laws are unfair to responsible owners.
Breed-specific laws increase costs for the community. Shelter costs for the
community could rise as citizens abandon targeted breeds and adoptable dogs
of the targeted breeds could be euthanized at the shelter.
Some communities have had their breed-specific laws overturned on
constitutional grounds. Because proper identification of what dogs would be included is
difficult or impossible, the law may be deemed unconstitutionally vague.
Strongly enforced animal control laws (such as leash laws), generic
guidelines on dealing with dangerous dogs and increased public education efforts to
promote responsible dog ownership are all better ways to protect communities
from dangerous animals.
Breed-specific legislation is opposed by the AKC, the American Veterinary
Medical Association, the National Animal Control Association, the ASPCA, and a
host of national animal welfare organizations that have studied the issue and
recognize that targeting breeds simply does not work.
AKC's Canine Legislation department
919-816-3720
[email protected]
Sacramento Council of Dog Clubs
Joan Gibson Reid, Corresponding Secretary
and Legislative Coordinator
[email protected]
The Animal Council
[email protected]
