Question:
I sure hope our members who are in California speak up against this!
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/West/06/2....ap/index.html
SACRAMENTO, California (AP) -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to repeal a state law that requires animal shelters to hold stray dogs and cats for up to six days before killing them.
Instead, there would be a three-day requirement for strays. Other animals, including birds, hamsters, potbellied pigs, rabbits, snakes and turtles, could be killed immediately.
Schwarzenegger has told the state Legislature that the changes could save local governments that operate shelters up to $14 million.
An estimated 600,000 dogs and cats are put to death each year in California, including 34,000 in Los Angeles alone.
The waiting period has caused overcrowding and forced some shelters to kill off animals simply to make room for new ones, said H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for the state Department of Finance.
"Because of space limitations, the shelters are being forced to euthanize animals who are otherwise highly adoptable immediately after the holding time," Palmer said.
Despite Schwarzenegger's huge popularity, some political observers think the proposal will meet stiff resistance.
"There is no organized constituency of cats and dogs, but certainly the pet owners of America will find this reprehensible," said Barbara O'Connor, director of the Institute for the Study of Politics and Media at California State University, Sacramento.
"Cats and dogs are like mom and apple pie," she said. "Don't mess with the pets. Most people prefer them to other people."
The 1998 law is named for former state Sen. Tom Hayden, who said the governor's proposal "will inflict heartbreak on a lot of owners and people in the animal adoption world."


Answer:
why not inflict stricter fines and punishment on the HUMANS that leave the strays running around, refuse to spay and neuter, dump off pets, and refuse to take responsibility for their animals?
*sigh*


Answer:
Originally Posted by najiwench
why not inflict stricter fines and punishment on the HUMANS that leave the strays running around, refuse to spay and neuter, dump off pets, and refuse to take responsibility for their animals?
*sigh*
The only problem with that is it is not very easily done. Many strays if not almost all of them are not tracible back to their original owners so how can you inflict stricter fines to someone who you can't connect with the pet...also the spay and neuter issue is touchy because it is a very costly procedure and some people, who take in animals or say farms for instance do not have the money to pay $75+ to spay every cat that shows up, its not that they are refusing to do it, its that they cannot economically do it!
As horrible as this law is, i don't think it is going to make much of a difference in the rate at which animals are euthanized simply because in large areas like that there is such a turnover of pets, 3 days or 6 days, there is not much of a difference. It is a cruel fact of life that far too many people are irresponsible and either foolishly purchase pets to later decide they don't want them, or breeders who see dollars signs and do not think about what is going to happen to that animal in the future. Unfortunatly we are not all kind hearted, loving people and far too many of us see pets as just animals and not members of the family!


Answer:
(Schwarzenegger Mistake)
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has done something politicians hate doing -- admitting making a mistake.
Schwarzenegger says he was wrong to propose that animal shelters be allowed to kill stray dogs and cats more quickly to save money. (1)
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(NewsWatch by Bill Marshall)


Answer:
This proposed repeal has me really angered. Is this the only way he can think of to save money???? What kind of governor is he?
All rodents...including chinchillas and birds, pigs, turtles etc. will be killed immediately. Why????


Answer:
Why would birds be put to death immediately? Aside from their sentimental value, some parrots are worth thousands of dollars!
Has it actually been repealed? Or what is the outcome?



Answer:
I'm glad he admitted he made a mistake. There must have been quite an outcry from Californians.


Answer:
But he still is attacking exotics!! His apology is insignificant if he doesn't protect exotics too.


Answer:
He should know better than to propose something that would anger pet owners. I hope those who own and love exotics speak up as well!


Answer:
the article i read about his repeal seemed that he would repeal it all..it didn't specify just one part or another...so maybe the exotics will still be ok....