Hollister targets Chihuahuas and "pit bulls"

What do Chihuahuas and "pit bulls" have in common? They are both now in the crosshairs of the new mandatory sterilization ordinance in the City of Hollister, California.

Update from the Save Our Dogs website, posted here with permission of the author.

"There was a great turnout for last night’s Hollister city council meeting about the mandatory spay-neuter ordinance. The room was packed with more residents than the council had ever seen before on any issue."

"Only one person in the audience spoke for the ordinance. ALL of the others in the audience who spoke, at least two dozen of them, were opposed. Unfortunately the ordinance passed despite this unprecedented level of constituent opposition, by a 3-2 vote."

"Thank you to Mayor Gomez and Vice Mayor Valdivia for voting no."

"Council members Friend, Emerson, and Sanchez voted yes."

http://saveourdogs.net/2010/10/16/hollister-mandatory-spay-neuter-ordinance/

Hollister considers MSN-hearing October 18

The Hollister (CA) city council is scheduled to vote on breed-specific MSN on Monday Oct 18. It will pass if the committee room isn't packed with opponents willing to speak against it, especially locals.

A majority of the city council wants all breed MSN. That's what they said at the last city council meeting. But they have to deal with the pending BSL/MSN first. Hollister City officials have already begun discussions with San Benito County officials on county wide MSN. Our best hope to stop all breed MSN from spreading there is to stop the ordinance on Monday.

For more info and talking points:
http://saveourdogs.net/2010/10/16/hollister-mandatory-spay-neuter-ordinance/

PLEASE ATTEND THE HEARING!!

BELOW, LETTER FAXED TO CITY OF HOLLISTER BY CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF DOG CLUBS

October 17, 2010
Hollister City Council
375 Fifth St.
Hollister, CA 95023

Dear Mayor and City Council Members,

The California Federation of Dog Clubs, founded in 1990, is an association of dog clubs and dog owners. We represent thousands of citizens. We are dedicated to promoting animal welfare, supporting responsible animal ownership, and protecting the rights of responsible dog owners.

The CFoDC is OPPOSED to the mandated sterilization of dogs. In every community where such measures have been tried, the result is more abandoned animals, higher shelter admissions, higher kill rates, lower compliance with licensing and rabies vaccination laws, and radically increased costs for animal control. People become afraid to get pet licenses because proof of sterilization is required. They are afraid to go to a veterinarian for rabies shots or medical care because veterinarians are required to report them. People are forced to relinquish their pets when they cannot afford fees, fines and penalties.

Sterilization surgery usually costs hundreds of dollars, meaning that this proposal will disproportionately affect senior citizens and low-income families. Especially in today's difficult economic times, it is unreasonable to place this burden on residents whose dogs have not created a problem for the community.

Draconian animal laws are a nightmare to enforce. They overburden already underfunded and understaffed animal control departments. Each community must hire more animal control officers to enforce them and to deal with the increased intakes that will result, so an enormous amount of additional money is spent. A more effective and practical use of such funds would be to provide low-cost or free spay/neuter services.

Contrary to popular folklore, sterilization of dogs does NOT reduce aggression. A recent study by the AKC Canine Health Foundation reported significantly more behavioral problems in spayed and neutered bitches and dogs. The most commonly observed behavioral problem in spayed females was fearful behavior and the most common problem in males was aggression.

Many owners of intact dogs are extremely responsible, yet mandatory sterilization proposals, such as the one before the board, may prevent these owners from freely interacting with, showing, breeding or performing pet therapy with their dogs. Shelter costs will also skyrocket under this ordinance as citizens abandon pets that have been targeted due to breed or due to costs of fees or sterilization surgery itself.

San Antonio, Texas just recently repealed its failed mandated sterilization law. Mandatory sterilization laws do not work. There is no need to reinvent a broken wheel. We urge you to reject this measure.

Sincerely yours,

California Federation of Dog Clubs

Assembly Members Receive Certificates of Appreciation

California Federation of Dog Clubs awarded Certificates of Appreciation to all Assemblymembers who voted No or abstained on SB 250 on August 31, 2010. Here Assembly Member Norma Torres smiles in her Upland office as she receives her certificate.

Ms. Torres spoke on the floor in opposition to the bill in the final hours of the legislative session.

California Federation of Dog Clubs hereby awards this certificate of appreciation to

Assemblymember ___________

in recognition of (his/her) support of California's dogs and their owners

August 31, 2010

SB 250-DEAD AT LAST

Much like a disease-riddled cockroach, a bad bill is very difficult to kill. After resurrecting mandatory sterilization for pets yet again, the California assembly today wisely let the bill die a natural death.

At 10:10pm, on the fourth vote this evening on the Assembly Floor for the Motion to Reconsider re SB250 (today's file Item #43), the motion was finally granted.



At 10:22pm, (CA) SB250 was brought for a vote on the Assembly Floor. Mr. Blumenfield moved the call as he did "not" get the votes.

Here were some of the comments prior to the vote:


Mr. Blumenfield asked for an AYE vote.

Mr. Norby stated "We voted on this how many times? I say sterilize the bill."

Mr. Hagman stated "We need to vote this down."


And, finally, Mr. Calderon rose to state "I can't understand that this bill is about euthanasia yet it just won't die!"

Speaker Pro Tempore Fiona Ma lifted the call for SB250. Here is the (unofficial) tally:


YES ... 27

NO ... 39

'THE MEASURE FAILS'

Official time of death: August 31, 2010 11:47 p.m.

Californians are sick and tired of bills that criminalize law-abiding citizens for unobjectionable acts that are well within their constitutional rights. Yet we know that the HSUS and Judie Mancuso have proclaimed their intent to continue the assault on our personal freedoms.

We are organized. We are determined. We are mad as hell and not going to take it any more!


We continue to stand in solidarity against tyranny and oppression.

Ding Dong SB 250 is DEAD!

HSUS on top 10 list for Domestic Terrorism Org

Nothing speaks volumes like this report from the Department of Homeland Security. It is an Executive Ordered 2008 DHS Report. Pacelle has tried to quash its impact with feeble attempts to have his "associates" dispute it. The report stands as no one but a President can rescind an Executive Order. Read the whole report and don't miss Page 9... where two of Pacelle's organizations, HSUS and Fund For Animals are cited as terror support groups

HSUSSUCKS.COM

"Once in the racket you're always in it." ~~Al Capone

Make sure you have your seat belts on and lets proceed.


The MOB, H$U$ and the Black EGG

Are You Concerned?

To Whom It May Concern:


Many of us across the nation and here in California watched with horror while mandatory sterilization (MSN) was put into place in one of the largest metropolitan cities in our country: Los Angeles.


We warned them it would mean more lives would be lost.


Judie Mancuso, the bill's sponsor, denied it. Ed Boks, the LAAS Director, denied it. The City Council denied it.


We urged them to embrace no-kill sheltering policies that are a proven formula for successfully reducing killing in shelters, in other words, proven to SAVE LIVES.


Senators and Assembly Members alike also turned a deaf ear to our
pleas to truly protect homeless and lost pets with PROVEN life saving programs. Not a one wanted to touch statewide no-kill implementation.
Why? Perhaps we have not lined their pockets with silver?


Today, Los Angeles finally submitted its rabies data to the California Dept. of Health.


Once again, MSN has proven to be a killer as 12, 272 more dogs were killed and 16,115 more were impounded than in 2008. The cats fared better, perhaps, since LAAS has a harder time "finding" them. Go cats! Hide for your lives! And while you are at it, take care of that overpopulation of vermin in Los Angeles, especially in Beverly Hills.


On the other hand, Santa Cruz county as usual has not reported.


I ask those to whom this may concern, call your Assembly Member and Senator and ask for No-Kill programs to be supported shelter to shelter instead of the increased killing that MSN brings.


Thank you!


Diane Amble
CAVA - California Animal Voters Alliance
A IRS Section 527 PAC Organization
http://www.cavotersalliance.com/







*I don’t believe the LA cats stats.

California passes law barring landlords from requiring declawing

Declaw and debark are supposedly "inhumane"? And yet many legislators and animal rights groups want to force our pets to undergo sterilization surgery? How hypocritical!

Bottom line, surgery on a pet should be the prerogative of the owner.

Calif. passes bill barring forced pet declawing

Wednesday, August 25, 2010
(08-25) 16:29 PDT Sacramento, Calif. (AP) --

California lawmakers have approved a bill that would prohibit landlords from requiring tenants to declaw or devocalize their pets in order to move in.

The state Assembly on Thursday passed the bill by a 44-10 vote, sending it to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The bill's author, Democratic Assemblyman Pedro Nava, says it is unconscionable for landlords to require pet owners to subject their animals to permanent surgeries as a condition of tenancy.

Under AB2743, landlords would be fined $1,000 for demanding those procedures in a lease agreement.

Eight local governments in California recently banned the practice of cat declawing, calling it inhumane.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/08/25/state/n162949D96.DTL#ixzz0xj0HyDEQ

Calls needed for SB 250

SB 250 is in the assembly and may be reconsidered for a vote during tomorrow's session. This bill is bad news! It mandates sterilization for the vast majority of California's dogs and cats.


Call your assembly member to ask for a no vote or an abstention on SB 250. The measure may be called for a re-vote any time before Aug 31. Below is a list of the assembly members with their vote from August 26th. Thank those who voted "no" or abstained, and respectfully request those who voted "Yes" to change their vote or abstain. Remind them that the California Dept of Finance is opposed to SB 250 because it will increase shelter numbers and inevitably raise costs.

Judie Mancuso - Follow the Money!

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.