Two Important California Legislative Victories This Week
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

In Defense of Animals (IDA)
September 2012

Thanks in part to the letter-writing and other activism of IDA supporters in California, together with substantial work by other organizations, California Governor Jerry Brown signed two important laws to protect animals this week.

SB 1221, authored by Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) will outlaw the use of dogs in bear and bobcat hunting in California. "Hounding" involves trophy hunters using packs of radio-collared dogs to chase down bears and bobcats, then the hunter shoots the terrified animal off a tree branch. IDA's California members wrote over 3,300 letters and e-mails in support of SB 1221. IDA also coordinated getting activists to the Capitol in Sacramento to speak at hearings.

SB 1229 is a new California law that prohibits landlords from requiring tenants to declaw or devocalize (debark) their animals as a condition of occupancy. California is the first state in the nation to enact such important humane legislation. The bill was introduced by Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) and the battle for it's passage was led by Paw Project and and the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. IDA was proud to support SB 1229 and asked our members to contact California Governor Brown in support of the bill. And before Governor Brown was in office, thousands of our supporters wrote to former Governor Schwarzenegger about this issue.

Thank you, and please keep these victories in mind next time you're asked to speak up on animal protection legislation. Sometimes our representatives listen, and when they do, the animals win.


Return to Animal Rights Articles