Forced spay-neuter: Get those phones and fax machines ready
By Gina Spadafori
June 5, 2008
Lloyd Levine may have lost his primary, but his California legislation to force the spaying and neutering of the pets of people who aren’t putting any animals in shelters, AB 1634, is still not dead. In fact, it should return to a state Senate Committee on June 18.
You know, the bill that Mexican and Russian puppy-smugglers and ignorant, greedy and utterly clueless backyard breeders will completely ignore, paragons of civic responsibility that they are? That bill that targets reputable, ethical breeders but gives puppy-mill scum a complete pass? The bill that won’t at all help the feral cat problem, or do anything about shelter reform as the nation’s shelters continue to bash the no-kill movement and do everything they can to blame everyone but themselves for not, you know, sheltering pets who need homes? You know, the bill that disregards peer-reviewed scientific evidence that spaying and neutering — especially early — has risks for pets and needs to be made with informed consent as a result of a discussion between a responsible owner and a veterinarian?
Yes, that bill. Or, at we call it here, the pet extinction act, since groups like PETA are pushing hard for it. You know, PETA, which kills more than 90 percent of the animals who come into their “shelter.”
Easy answers are rarely either, and sound-bite “solutions” are mostly crap.
I have run a breed rescue, never bred a litter and almost all my pets are spayed/neutered, even the rabbit. My kitten was just neutered at 10 weeks, as a matter of informed consent between me and my veterinarian. I manage to keep my only two intact animals — one male, one female, both show champions — from producing unplanned puppies because, you know, I am strangely enough not an idiot. My girl may one day be bred — probably will be bred, in fact — after she has further proven her work abilities and passed about a half-dozen health screenings. She will be bred to a dog who is likewise proven, and I will, like any ethical, responsible breeder, always be there for any and all puppies who result.
Because all breeders are not the same, not matter what you’ve been told. And because some things are worth preserving, and I truly do believe our heritage breeds of dogs are among them. Does that mean my individual dogs are “better” than those in shelters? Nope. But it does mean that they are part of a larger picture, and I want to see that picture preserved.
You, responsible pet-owner, are not an idiot either. And you are smart enough to see through to the real reason for legislation like AB 1634, and why animal-rights fanatics are so desperate to get these things passed. They want to pick off all domestic animals, one species at a time, so they cannot be “exploited.” That’s why they trash shelter reform, because it embraces the idea that people want and will care for pets, given an opportunity. Not exploit them. Care for them.
What can you do?
Write a polite, short (no more than one page), well-reasoned letter stating what is wrong with AB 1634 and why it needs to die in committe on June 18. If you’re a California resident, be sure to note that with your real name and real address. If you are not a California resident, you should still include your real name and real address. California relies on tourism, and we don’t like it when people say they will not visit. So say so.
Politely.
Personalize each letter and fax it to each member of the California State Senate’s Local Government Committee:
Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod
Fax: (916) 445-0128
Sen. Dave Cox
Fax: (916) 324-2680
Sen. Tom Harman
Fax: (916) 445-9263
Sen. Christine Kehoe
Fax: (916) 327-2188
Sen. Michael Machado
Fax: (916) 323-2304
And send a copy to the Committee’s Staff Director, Peter Detwiler
Fax: (916) 322-0298
Then call your veterinarian and ask her or him to do the same. The state veterinary association last year withdrew support for AB 1634 after its members let the leadership know they were on the wrong track. Ask your veterinarian to follow through, and fax a letter.
Then ask your groomer, pet-sitter, boarding-kennel operator, pet-retailers and dog-trainer to do so, too. Call your local humane society shelter and let them know that you are very sorry, but you will not be renewing your membership if they are supporting AB 1634. Oh, but you’ll be happy to provide them all with copies of “Redemption.”
Finally, call the Senate committee — (916) 651-4115 — and politely voice your opinion — NO on AB 1634. It’s painless and it won’t take but a minute.
There’ll be a rally in Sacramento on June 18, and we’ll have more on that later. Time to warm up the fax machines. We have work to do
Posted on Jun 9, 2008, 11:29 AM
from IP address 208.106.99.77
Posted on Jun 9, 2008, 4:16 PM from IP address 208.106.99.77