Opposition to California Healthy Pet Act, AB 1634

Opposition to the
CA Healthy Pet Act, AB 1634

Mandatory Spay and Neuter for Dogs and Cats

We have been requested to put this site back on line.  The for current information about the progress of the bill please go to the links below.  This site will not be updated, however, the information on this site is here for research and factual backup.


CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETPAC PETITION

PLEASE fax a new letter of opposition to the Senate TODAY. Click here for the office locations and fax numbers. Please Include above the main body of the letter:
RE: AB 1634 (California Healthy Pets Act) -- OPPOSE

Click here for Standard Opposition Letter form
(scroll down to the bottom of the alert to [Take Action])

Click here for Veterinarians Opposition Letter Form
(scroll down to the bottom of the alert to [Take Action])

AB1634 is an attempt to control unwanted animal populations in California.  Current data shows that as the human population has grown from 20 million to 36 million over the past 30 years, the number of shelter impounds has dropped over 37% in the same time period.  Pet populations traditionally increase along with human populations. Clearly, this data suggests that existing spay and neuter programs and public education have had an impact on declining rates of shelter impounds.

We have impound numbers, but we don't have accurate data regarding the reasons animals are impounded.  

  • What percentage are strays?  
  • What percentage were given up by their owner for behavior or medical issues?  
  • What percentage are dogs?
  • What percentage are pure breeds?  
  • What percentage are mixed breeds?
  • What percentage are cats?
  • What percentage are feral cats?
  • What percentage are kittens?
  • What percentage are puppies?
  • What percentage are rescues from abroad?
  • What percentage are smuggled?   

Without accurate shelter data, how do we know what proportion of these unwanted animals are actually adoptable?  A well-designed study is needed to determine exactly what the problem is before we pass broad scope legislation aimed at sterilizing everything in sight that is 4 months of age.  AB1634 is poorly conceived and, as written, this legislation presents a "ONE-SIZE FITS ALL" early-age sterilization approach with little thought regarding the health and behavior considerations of early spay/neuter.

Should AB 1634 be enacted, the effects will likely be:

  • Shelter euthanasia will increase for a few years as people give up their pets they can’t afford to spay or neuter

  • Licensing rates and Vaccinations will decrease as people “hide” from the legislation,

  • Revenue from licensing and vaccination programs will decline

  • Small breeders will vanish from the open market immediately to save their breeds from extinction in California

  • Dog and Cat shows and events will fade away, taking with them with the significant tourism revenue generated by these events

  • Commercial breeding, puppy smuggling from abroad will increase resulting in unhealthy, poor quality pet populations

  • Enforcement of this law is impractical so accidental litter rates will decline only slowly

  • Feral cat populations will be largely unaffected

Reasons for Opposition

Health Considerations of Our Animals

AB 1634 does not address the health considerations associated with spaying and neutering animals at an early age, especially affecting the long-term health of working breeds or any dog (purebred or mixed breed) that participates in working or athletic events.

AB 1634 Promotes Puppy Mills and discriminates against all breeders.

Under this legislation, rare breeds and working breeds would not be recognized as purebred, and would be subject to the mandatory spay and neuter law. Dogs We Can't Live without

Industrial breeders are exempt and AB 1634 would actually promote “puppy mills,” most likely adding to the numbers of unwanted, unhealthy dogs in shelters. We will see an upsurge of expensive mall pet store puppies, bred by commercial operations. These pets are not sold with the lifetime support of the breeder, such as local hobby breeders usually provide. We will see an increase in sick puppies smuggled in from other countries, sold out of the backs of pickup trucks.
The Problem with Puppy Smuggling, Baltimore Sun, May 8, 2006.

Responsible US breeding programs for rare and working breeds would be severely and negatively affected. 

AB 1634 Is Bad For BUSINESS. 

California communities stand to lose millions of dollars when the various kennel clubs no longer sponsor events in the state due to the provisions of AB 1634.  All City Dogs, San Diego, CA

The very name of this proposed act, AB 1634, The Healthy Pet's Act is deceptive to the general public.  This bill is not a “healthy pet’s act” it reads more like a “pet extinction act.”

Solutions

Legislation to control unwanted animal populations should focus on “owner responsibility.” Pet owners must ultimately take responsibility for their animals. People need to be educated so they understand and accept the responsibilities of pet ownership before they acquire a pet.  Breeders need to screen their buyers to ensure appropriate placement of animals. Careless breeding should be discouraged through veterinarians, breed club organizations, public education, licensing incentives, tax incentives and low-cost spay and neuter clinics.  There is a better way to address the issue – AB 1634 is not the solution.

Legislation to Control Unwanted Animal Populations Should Focus on WHAT WORKS

  • Owner responsibility and public education

  • Breeder Responsibility and education via breed club organizations

  • Licensing incentives

  • Tax incentives – veterinarians, pet owners

  • Low cost and/or subsidized spay/neuter clinics – THEY WORK

AB 1634 will not solve the problem.

We respectfully asks you to oppose Assembly Bill 1634, the California Healthy Pets Act.

 

Save Our Dogs: a grassroots effort to save working dogs from AB 1634, mandatory spay/neuter
For more articles and contacts go to www.SaveOurDogs.net