Please Protect the Animals From Aaaahhhnold in California!

[Triana]

More info re Hayden Law (CA animals)

**PLEASE CROSS-POST/FORWARD ASAP!**
>
> In his effort to solve the budget crisis, California Governor
> Schwarznegger has taken a hatchet to years of laws enacted to protect
> abused and abandoned animals. The result is the "behind closed doors"
> repeal of the Hayden bill and other pieces of humane legislation,
> passed through the years. Whether an act of omission or commission,
> the result will be a return to the horrible pre-1998 status quo for
> California animal shelters if you don't act TODAY.
>
> The two most disturbing elements of the Governor's budget are the
> return of the animal holding period to only 72 hours for all animals
> (stray and relinquished) and the elimination of the requirement that
> shelters seek veterinary care for animals at the shelter.
>
> Among the other policies that will be repealed if the current budget
> is adopted:
> *The requirement that people convicted of cruelty to animals to pay
> for the costs of the animals' care while the issue of guilt is being
> determined.
> *The requirement that as a condition of probation, people convicted of
> animal cruelty can be prevented from owning animals for three years.
> *The law that made it a duty for shelters to use all currently
> acceptable methods of identification – including microchips – to
> determine the lawful owner of any seized or impounded animals.
> *The State's policy preference for adoption instead of killing
> animals.
> *The requirement that shelters allow qualified animal adoption/rescue
> groups to take responsibility for animals if they pay the required > fee.
> *The requirement that shelters give owner-relinquished animals a
> chance to be adopted.
>
> The extent of the repeal caught everyone by surprise. We have only one
> last chance to have these draconian measures removed from the budget.
> The budget conference committee meets one final time... this weekend.
> They must be convinced to revisit the inclusion of the Hayden
> legislation as part of the budget or at least to only suspend the
> fiscal provisions of the Hayden legislation until the budget crisis
> has passed.
>
> Years of your work and the countless hours of hundreds of volunteers
> can be erased THIS WEEKEND if this repeal is allowed to occur.
>
> Listed below is contact information for the legislators who will be
> meeting this weekend to approve the proposed budget. Please contact
> them as many times as you are able before 5pm Friday, June 25th.
>
> THE FATE OF MILLIONS OF ANIMALS ARE RELYING ON YOUR ACTION. SEND AN
> EMAIL, SEND A FAX AND MAKE A CALL. Tell them NOT TO REPEAL THE HAYDEN
> LAW!
>
> QUESTIONS? Contact Rich Mc Lellan, Animal Legislative Action Network,
> [e-mail] OR Jennifer Fearing, United Animal Nations,
> [e-mail]
>
> Conference Committee Members
>
> Chesbro, Wes (D) - Chair
> [phone] tel
> [e-mail] email
> [phone] fax
>
> Dede Alpert (D)
> [phone] tel
> [e-mail] email
> [phone] fax
>
> Ross Johnson (R)
> [phone] tel
> *doesn’t use e-mail
> [phone] fax
>
> Darrell Steinberg (D)
> [phone] tel
> [e-mail] email
> [phone] fax
>
> Judy Chu (D)
> [phone] tel
> *doesn’t use e-mail
> [phone] fax
>
> Rick Keene (R)
> [phone] tel
> [e-mail] email
> [phone] fax
>
>
> Senate Budget Committee Staff
> Keely Martin Bosler
> Consultant
> [phone] tel
> [e-mail] email
> [phone] fax
>
>
> Assembly Budget Committee Staff
> Kasey Schimke
> Consultant
> [phone] tel
> [e-mail] email
> [phone]