AB 1634

AB 1634 is a controversial bill [ [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1601-1650/ab_1634_bill_20070703_amended_sen_v92.pdf AB 1634, as amended July 3, 2007] ] (authored by Democrat Lloyd Levine) in the California State Legislature which would require that dogs and cats in California be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age. The bill provides limited availability for purchased "intact permits" and a small number of exemptions. The bill passed the California Assembly by the narrowest of margins on June 6, 2007 [ [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1601-1650/ab_1634_bill_20070711_history.html AB 1634 bill history] ] , but was deferred by Assemblyman Levine on July 11, 2007 when it became apparent that it would not pass in the California Senate Local Government committee where it had been assigned. [ [http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/268703.html AB 1634 report in Sacramento Bee newspaper] ] Levine has stated his intention to reintroduce the bill in 2008. [ [http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/515856.html Report in Sacramento Bee] ]

Bill supporters and bill opponents both claimed a large number of followers, and the 2007 hearings on the bill in Sacramento resulted in some of the largest and most passionate crowds of the year in the Capitol. The bill generated the most letters and calls of any California legislation in 2007. [ [http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/jul/12/dogs-and-cats-safe-from-knife/ AB 1634 report in Ventura County Star newspaper] ]

Support and opposition

AB 1634 is generally supported by animal shelter directors and workers [ [http://cacda.org/updates/1/ AB 1634 support letter from CACDA] ] [ [http://laanimalservices.blogspot.com/2007/06/healthy-pets-act-could-save-millions-of.html AB 1634 support letter from Ed Boks] ] , animal rights groups [ [http://blog.peta.org/archives/california/ AB 1634 support page from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] ] , animal rescue groups [ [http://www.saveabunny.com/?q=node/2792 AB 1634 support letter from Save a Bunny] ] , SPCAs [ [http://spcamc.org/pdf/03-19-2007-life-saver.pdf AB 1634 support from Monterey County SPCA] ] , humane societies [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_July_9/ai_n19345594 AB 1634 support letter from Silicon Valley Humane Society] ] [ [http://www.cahealthypets.com/home.htm AB 1634 support page with listed animal rescue and humane society groups] ] [ [http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/state_legislation/california/ab1634_california_healthy_pets_act.html AB 1634 support page of HSUS] ] , and the Los Angeles city government [ [http://www.laanimalservices.org/PDF/commission/2007/051407Minutes.pdf Meeting minutes of Board of Animal Services Commissioners, City of Los Angeles, 5/14/2007] ] . The bill has received an enormous amount of media attention.

The bill is generally opposed by pet owners [ [http://www.petpac.net/latimes_071607 AB 1634 article from Los Angeles Times] ] [ [http://www.adoa.org/more/index.cfm?Fuseaction=more_24006&section=more_24006 AB 1634 opposition letter from American Dog Owners Association] ] , breed clubs [ [http://www.akc.org/canine_legislation/CA_action_center.cfm American Kennel Club AB 1634 page] ] [ [http://www.cfainc.org/exhibitors/alerts.html#State Cat Fanciers Association legislative alerts] ] [ [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1601-1650/ab_1634_cfa_20070423_093742_asm_comm.html Assembly policy committee Bill Analysis] ] , breeders of working dogs [ [http://saveourdogs.net/documents/USALG.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter from United Schutzhund Clubs of America] ] [ [http://saveourdogs.net/documents/DVGLG.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter from LV/DVG America] ] , search-and-rescue dog associations [ [http://www.carda.org/CARDA%20AB%201634%20Oppose%20v4.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter from California Rescue Dog Association] ] [ [http://saveourdogs.net/documents/CSSTLG.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter from Canine Specialized Search Team] ] , K9 law enforcement associations [ [http://saveourdogs.net/documents/USPCALG.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter from United States Police Canine Association] ] [ [http://www.cops.cc/news/press_releases/public_opposition_to_ab_1634/ Press Release about AB 1634 from the California Organization of Police and Sheriffs] ] [ [http://saveourdogs.net/documents/WSPCALG.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter from Western States Police Canine Association] ] [ [http://www.doggonecalifornia.org/NAPWDAPosition.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter from North American Police Work Dog Association] ] , organizations that provide guide dogs for the blind and service dogs for the disabled [ [http://caninecompanions.org/national/pdf_files/CH%20Letter%20Opposing%20AB%201634%20ADI.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter from Assistance Dogs International, Inc.] ] [ [http://saveourdogs.net/documents/iaadpmay31.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter from the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners] ] [ [http://www.caninecompanions.org/national/pdf_files/Letter%20Ted%20Rogahn%20contra%20ab1634.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter from Canine Companions for Independence] ] [ [http://saveourdogs.net/documents/PawsitiveTeamsLG.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter from Paws'itive Teams] ] , California's agriculture industry [ [http://saveourdogs.net/documents/farmbureaucoalition.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter from the California Farm Bureau Federation, California Cattlemen's Association, and California Outdoor Heritage Alliance] ] [ [http://www.ab1634.com/Files/Letters/ab1634HarmsAgriculture.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter from American Working Farmcollie Association] ] , animal rescue groups [ [http://saveourdogs.net/documents/NESRLG.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter by National English Shepherd Rescue] ] [ [http://saveourdogs.net/documents/LocalGovt_BARK.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter by Bay Area Rescue Keeshonden] ] , leaders in the No Kill movement [ [http://nathanwinograd.blogspot.com/2007/09/debate-over-californias-ab-1634.html AB 1634 opposition statement from Nathan Winograd] ] , and many veterinarians [ [http://www.naiaonline.org/issues/opposeAB1634petitionList.cfm Petition list of California veterinarians opposed to AB 1634] ] [ [http://www.naiaonline.org/issues/opposeAB1634.htm California veterinarians against AB 1634] ] .

Supporters of the bill claim that legislative action is needed, due to the fact that about 400,000 animals are euthanized (killed) in California's shelters each year [ [http://theanimalcouncil.com/files/2005AnnualReportofLocalRabiesActivities-Final.pdf California Department of Health Services report for 2005 showing numbers for impounded and euthanized cats and dogs] ] . Supporters claim that animal shelter services cost California taxpayers $250 million a year [ [http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070423/news_1n23animals.html AB 1634 report by San Diego Union-Tribune] ] . Supporters claim that a dog born in California currently has nearly a 1 in 4 chance of being ultimately euthanized in a shelter [ [http://www.cahealthypets.com/pdf/one-out-of-four-dogs.pdf AB 1634 support one in four analysis] ] . Supporters claim that similar laws in individual communities in California have been successful, proving the validity of the mandatory spay/neuter concept [ [http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a40/CA-HealthyPetAct/SantaCruzStats.pdf AB 1634 supporters claim about Santa Cruz County] ] . Supporters claim that spay and neuter improve animal health [ [http://www.cahealthypets.com/pdf/may-The%20Medical%20Truth%20about%20Early%20Spay%20and%20Neuter%20in%20Cats%20and%20Dogs.pdf AB 1634 support claims about medical benefits] ] .

Opponents of the bill claim that erroneous shelter statistics are being used to support the bill [ [http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/BigLieGraphs.pdf Impact of Santa Cruz mandatory spay/neuter ordinance] ] , and that the experiences where mandatory spay/neuter laws have been implemented show that they increase costs to the taxpayers [ [http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/SC%20budget.pdf Santa Cruz Animal Services Budget before and after mandatory spay/neuter ordinance] ] , and increase shelter impound and euthanasia rates [ [http://network.bestfriends.org/news/4108.html Study of mandatory spay/neuter laws by Animal Law Coalition] ] [ [http://action.alleycat.org/c.mmL3KgN3LzH/b.853085/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?aid=8393 AB 1634 report by Alley Cat Allies] ] . Opponents claim that non-punitive No Kill programs have proven to be more effective solutions [ [http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/pdf/mandatorylaws.pdf The Dark Side of Mandatory Licensing and Neutering Laws by the No Kill Advocacy Center] ] [ [http://www.maddiesfund.org/nokill/nokill_articles_winograd.html No Kill by Nathan Winograd] ] [ [http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/nokillequation.html the No Kill Equation] ] [ [http://www.maddiesfund.org/nokill/build_com_sfspca.html How San Francisco became No Kill] ] , and that official state shelter statistics indicate that impound and euthanasia rates have been generally trending downward in California for more than 30 years [ [http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/state%20dog%20chart6.pdf Long-term California shelter statistics for dogs] ] . Opponents claim that passage of the bill would harm breeding programs for pets, guide dogs and service dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, police dogs, hunting dogs, and working herding and livestock guardian dogs. Opponents claim that spay and neuter have adverse health impacts that need to be weighed against the benefits [ [http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf Long-term Health Risk and Benefits of Spay/Neuter in Dogs] ] [ [http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html Early Spay-Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete] ] , therefore spay and neuter should be decisions made between the owner in consultation with their veterinarian based on the health needs and circumstances of each individual patient, rather than one that is dictated by the state [ [http://www.dogplay.com/Articles/MyArticles/againstAB1634.html AB 1634 opposition points] ] [ [http://www.noab1634.com/dox/CVMA%20Past%20Prez%20Hamil%20Against%20AB1634.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter by Dr. John Hamil, DVM, past president of the California Veterinary Medical Association] ] [ [http://www.noab1634.com/dox/Vet%20Repro%20Expert%20Against%20AB1634.pdf AB 1634 opposition letter by Dr. Sharon Vanderlip, DVM] ] [ [http://www.adoa.org/print_index.cfm?Fuseaction=LETTER_FROM_CAL&print=print AB 1634 opposition letter from American Dog Owners Association] ] . Finally, opponents claim that a majority of veterinary medical associations in California oppose AB 1634. [ [http://www.dvmnews.com/dvm/News/Controversy-kills/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/451756 AB 1634 article from DVM News] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1601-1650/ab_1634_bill_20070703_amended_sen_v92.html Text of the bill]