CALIFORNIA BILLS MOVING FORWARD

(information courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States)

WHAT: Last Monday, the California legislature moved two very important bills out of their respective committees and on to the next chamber for a vote.

Senate Bill 1462, which will require rodeos to employ on-site veterinarians, was passed by the Senate and will now go to a committee in the Assembly for a vote. Currently, animals injured during rodeo events can linger in pain for extended time periods before veterinarians are called in to treat their injuries or euthanize them.

Assembly Bill 2479, which will regulate live animal food markets, successfully passed the Assembly and has now moved on to the Senate Rules Committee for a vote. AB 2479 will ensure that animals sold in food markets are not dismembered, flayed, cut open, OR have their skin, scales, feathers, or shells removed while still alive. The bill also requires humane confinement of animals being sold in food markets.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: If you live in California, you can help these bills pass their final hurdle to becoming laws by calling or writing your state (not federal) legislators and asking them to support these bills when they come up for a vote. Ask your state Senator to support AB 2479, & ask your state Assembly member to support SB 1462!

All letters can be sent to the following address: Assembly member / Senator (last name), State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. You may also call (916) 445-2323 (Assembly general info) or (916) 445-4311 (senate general info).

SAMPLE EMAIL:

Senator Karnette,

I am writing as an animal lover and a constituent of yours to urge you to support Assembly Bill 2479. This bill is a crucial step in providing safeguards for the poor creatures sold in live animal markets. It is unconscionable that it is currently not ensured that these animals will not be dismembered, flayed, cut open, OR have their skin, scales, feathers, or shells removed while still alive. Please use your vote to protect these defenseless innocents, and to insure that selfish humans are not allowed to perpetrate this kind of torture in the name of greed or apathy.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Christina J. Johnson

111 Main St.

Long Beach, CA 90001