October was a banner month for animal legislation
Here's a rundown on the eight pet bills Gov. Gavin Newsom just signed into law.
In October, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law eight bills that, it is hoped, will address quality of life for animals or saving those lives altogether.
That’s at least some joyful legislative news. Here are the bills in nutshells:
1. AB 867: bans unethical declawing of cats in California, signed Oct. 6. Declawing a cat, unless done for medical purposes, is unnecessary and can harm the cat. It’s horribly painful for several days, at least. That wasn’t common knowledge a few decades ago when some of us — me included, and I’m sorry — declawed their pet cats to protect the furniture. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA, not to be confused with the local spcaLA) put out a statement against the practice, noting that it deprives the animals of their natural protection and could cause behavior problems. BTW, I now have scratching boards everywhere and bought upholstered with microfiber, which the cats leave alone.
2. AB 516: clearly defines California veterinary scope of practice for technicians and assistants, signed Oct. 6. Under this bill, vet techs and assistants may perform certain services for shelter pets under supervision of a registered veterinarian. (Spay/neuter wasn’t listed among the permitted practices.) I didn’t find any indication of whether the vet could supervise multiple procedures, which would likely be a good use of the new law because veterinarians are stretched thin at many shelters.
3. SB 602: allows California veterinarians to allow veterinary technicians to give vaccines and parasite-control medication, signed Oct. 10. This one apparently doesn’t require veterinary supervision and would allow the vet to devote more time to diagnosis and treatment.
4. AB 506: requires California pet sellers to disclose animal origins, health history, and bans nonrefundable deposits, signed Oct. 9. Selling pets in retail stores has been prohibited in California since 2017. However, this doesn’t stop animals, dogs in particular, from being shipped to California from out of state through what animal activists call the puppy pipeline. This bill invalidates sales contracts between out-of-state pet sellers and California buyers that require a nonrefundable deposit — if the buyer has paid a deposit, the seller must return it within 30 days if the contract is voided. Contracts are also invalidated if the seller fails to disclose where the pet originally came from or any existing medical conditions of the pet before completing the sale.
5. SB 312: requires vet-issued health certificates for all dogs imported into California, signed Oct. 9. These certificates must be made public and sent electronically so that they don’t get, you know, lost.
6. AB 519: bans California brokers from selling dogs, cats, or rabbits bred by others for profit, signed Oct. 9. Even though retail stores are no longer permitted to sell live animals, no one is stopping backyard breeders from selling petsonline, on the street, out of their car, on flyers stuck to street signs or anywhere else. This does not apply to licensed, responsible breeders. Many dogs bred by irresponsible breeders cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, and so do the vet bills. The castoffs of the breeders, including the overbred moms, wind up dead on the street or inside overcrowded shelters. Oh, may this bill have teeth and claws. Read about this entire “puppy-mill package” here (quotation marks mine).
7. SB 221: protects stalking victims and their pets, signed Oct. 10. "Most Americans consider their pets family, with a statistical majority of women considering their pets as important to them as human family members. This highlights how easy it is for stalkers to strike fear in and control over their victims by threatening harm to their companion animals," said Judie Mancuso, SCIL’s founder and president and cosponsor of SB 221. As with California Family Code 6320, which allows protective orders against family pets in abuse cases, this law gives victims of stalkers further peace of mind.
8. AB 478: updates emergency plans for rescuing a pet from an evacuation area, signed Oct. 14. “While animals are legally categorized as property, most people view them as family members and, as such, are determined to save them,” a section of AB 478 reads. The bill, among other things, requires that local districts update plans to support pet owners during emergency evacuations. AB 478 was also cosponsored by SCIL and Assembly Member Rick Zbur and was dubbed the FOUND Act, or Friends of Oreo Uniting During Disasters. Yes, it was inspired by Oreo and his dad, Casey Colvin. Read details here.
Colvin credits the help of the rescue team members, including SCIL team member Jane Garrison, who first spotted Oreo in a driveway, and the heroism of Battalion Chief Brent Pascua, who broke down the door to his home and prevented Colvin’s two dogs from dying in the Palisades fire. Pascua was honored at the SCIL Heroes and Helpers of the LA Fire Awards fundraiser. Video courtesy of SCIL
“The signing of SB 221 and AB 478 represents a huge victory for animals and the people who care about them,” Mancuso said. “These new laws reflect years of advocacy by Social Compassion in Legislation to make California a leader in protecting both animals and the families who love them. From strengthening protections for domestic violence survivors and their pets to ensuring no animal is left behind during disasters, these new laws show what’s possible when common sense and compassion drive policy. We are deeply grateful to Governor Newsom, our bill authors, and all who stood with us to make this progress a reality.”
The coauthors and sponsors of each of the eight bills deserve commendation for the work and determination to pass them. So does Gov. Newsom, who’s undoubtedly pretty busy himself.
The author thanks Judie Mancuso and Best Friends Animal Society for information and input on the bills.
YOURS DROOLY
You know what all these doggies want in their treat bags — a forever you! A leash, bowls with good food and water, toys, long walks and a comfy curl-up on a couch are good suggestions, and they must last forever — longer than the biggest jawbreaker ever made. Long Beach Animal Care Services is over capacity with dogs, so speed the process to adopt or foster these three or any of the other pets by emailing PetAdopt@longbeach.gov or petfoster@longbeach.gov.
LBACS is located at 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach at the entrance to El Dorado Park (no parking fee for shelter guests). Hours of operation: Weds.–Fri.: 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Sat.–Sun.: 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Mon–Tues.: Closed
Say buon giorno to Ciao (ID#A749056), a Siberian husky with eyes as blue as arctic ice. Ciao, whom the volunteers like to call Chowder for short, loves to romp in the play yard and take walks. He’s a year old and will be a great companion to someone familiar with the quirks and challenges of this breed. Ciao’s favorite treats are Klondike Dogsled Bars.
Meet fabulous Fable (ID#A750660)! She’s a 6-month-old German shepherd mix who came to the shelter a few weeks ago with another dog. Her buddy got adopted, and Fable would love to be next. Her favorite treats are Pup Rocks.
Camarillo (ID#A746273) is another Siberian Husky who at a year old actually did charm someone so entirely that he went home, only to return when someone in the family turned out to be allergic to him. So, back he came to LBACS, to the friends, both human and canine, who’d brought out his good qualities. Please, when you’re about to adopt a dog, a cat or a bunny, please make sure that no one at home will have any condition that will make you have to return the pet. It breaks everyone’s heart. Camarillo’s favorite treats are 3 Huskyteers bars.
TAIL-WAGGIN' AND NOSE-BOOPIN' EVENTS
Howls and Meows special shelter adoption rates
The spirit lingers from Halloween through Dia de los Muertos! Two special adoption rates literally reflect the day of haunting: $31 for dogs, and lucky $13, the mirror image of 31, for cats! Our shelter staff and volunteers are presently using all the creative force that they have to save the lives of more dogs than they have room for, and they just took in about 70 cats from one location, so please make the shelter your first treat stop for Halloween. See all the adoptables here, or pay an in-person visit to Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, at the entrance to El Dorado Park (no parking fee for shelter guests). See hours and other information here.
Free event targeting compassion fatigue
If you’re hanging on by one claw or don’t even want to chase a squirrel, get up from your blanket and find your pack. Burgitte Tan, DVM, is a certified compassion fatigue and resiliency educator, certified grief specialist, trauma healing coach and board-certified veterinary oncologist with decades of experience working with others and their non-human loved ones. Her mission is to help those who help others, especially those devoted to animals. Dr. Tan will help you recognize symptoms of burnout and fatigue and go on to reclaiming the joy and energy of doing for others. We can sure use it. To register, email nona@folba.org. Space is limited.
The compassion fatigue event takes place Tuesday, Nov. 4, 5:30 p.m.–8 p.m. at Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach
Whiskers in Wonderland Gala
It’s the most wonderful time of the year yet again! The Little Lion Foundation invites all the cat folks to partake of a festivity for the felines for the sake of saving the lives of Long Beach’s vulnerable cats and kittens. The enchanting evening features live music and dancing, delicious hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, games with prizes, and a powerful keynote address by world-renowned cat behaviorist and advocate Jackson Galaxy, whom you will recognize from Animal Planet’s “My Cat from Hell.”
Join in and snag some great holiday gifts for your friends, your family and yourself. Know that the greatest gift will be the funding of Little Lion’s efforts, especially their rescue programs and especially, especially the low-cost, high-quality spay and neuter clinic that provides essential services to underserved families and community cats throughout Long Beach and the surrounding areas.
Whiskers in Wonderland takes place Sunday, Nov.9, 5 p.m. at The Reef on the Water, 880 S Harbor Scenic Dr., Long Beach. Tickets $150 each; add-on game pass $25. Purchase here.
Need a low-cost veterinarian, information about trapping community cats, places to volunteer, rescues and shelters to adopt from — anything pet related? Follow this link for resources. Please add your own ideas in the Comments section.
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