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| The Pet Store Act overwhelmingly passed the state Assembly, while The California Healthy Pets Act faces more opposition. The hearing will take place at the California state Capitol on July 9. |
California’s Senate Business, Professions & Economic Development Committee will hear testimony regarding the California Pet Store Act (AB 1347) and the California Healthy Pets Act (AB 1634) on July 9 at 1:30 p.m. in room 3191 at the state Capitol.
The Pet Store Act overwhelmingly passed the state Assembly with a 75 to 1 vote in late May. It would establish specific care criteria standards that retailers, not breeders, would have to adhere to or face penalties. The Pet Industry Joint Council (PIJAC) supports the bill and plans to submit testimony in favor of it at the July hearing.
The California Healthy Pets Act, however, is facing more opposition. Introduced by Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys), the bill narrowly passed through the Assembly in early June. It has the support of many of the state’s animal rescues and shelters as well as the California Veterinary Medical Assn., but PIJAC, the American Kennel Club (AKC), several dog clubs and the North American Police Work Dog Association have all voiced opposition.
The proposal would mandate all of the state’s dogs and cats—with some exceptions—older than 4 months old be spayed or neutered. Those exceptions include service animals and those raised specifically for showing.
Opponents say the law is too broad and does not leave room for pets raised in hobby situations that might not fit into a specific show category, but are bred for a specific look, nonetheless.
The International Cat Association (TICA) opposes the bill. According to a statement on the organization’s website: “Surgical procedures should be an individual decision between a veterinarian and their client, not mandated by the state. Mandatory spay/neuter laws are proven failures for reducing shelter issues and costly to implement. Each jurisdiction should be entitled to determine what works in its locality and what the locality can afford. The ‘exemptions’ in AB 1634 to obtain an intact license demonstrate a decided lack of understanding regarding hobby cat breeding and would be impossible for breeders to meet.”
In a letter addressed to Mike Eng, Chair, Assembly Committee on Business and Professions, TICA Legislative Committee Chair, Kelly Crouch writes: “… all surgery involves risk including the mundane, every day surgeries. When to perform any surgery should be a decision made between the pet owner and their veterinarian. AB 1634 eliminates every pet owners right to decide on how to best proceed with their pet’s well being.
“Eliminating local sources of quality, pedigreed cats will not eliminate the demand for pedigreed cats, it only moves the source outside the state or country boundaries. It will not increase demand for other cats.”
Those in support of the bill say it would save the lives of hundreds of thousands of unwanted pets euthanized each year, as well as reduce taxpayer costs associated with strays.