CROSS-POSTED

The Appropriations Committee vote on AB 1634 in fact was 10 to 6 –with Caballero (Salinas) and Ma (San Francisco) breaking away from the other
Democrats with 2 NO votes. A long-time lobbyist friend explained what I heard was what is called a “B” roll call – which means all Republicans
voting no. Two other Democrats – Davis (Los Angeles) and Lieu (Torrance) -- cast ‘conditional’ aye votes (with even Leno delivering barely-conditioned approval) pending on-going amendments to the form of
the proposed bill. (The author is scrambling to form the bill to appease powerful opposition groups.)

CURRENT BILL STATUS is at the legislation page: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov
COMM. VOTE SUMMARY : Ayes: 10 Noes: 06 PASS

Thank you letters to the 2 Democrats is appropriate:

Anna M. Caballero (D-28) Salinas
State Capitol, Room 3132
Sacramento, CA 94249-0028
Phone: (916) 319-2028
Fax: 916-319-2128
Assemblymember.Caballero@assembly.ca.gov

Fiona Ma (D-12) San Francisco
State Capitol, Room 2176
Sacramento, CA 94249-0012
Phone: (916) 319-2012
Fax: (916) 319-2112
Assemblymember.Ma@assembly.ca.gov

AND NOW a big push is on for letters to Assemblymembers. I will forward
more on that shortly.
Likely you have but here also are several websites with info and useful links:

See always and especially www.theanimalcouncil.com for significant background to spay/neuter legislation in California.
See also:
http://www.akc.org/canine_legislation/CA_action_center.cfm

http://naiaonline.org/
http://capwiz.com/naiatrust/issues/alert/?alertid=9763776&type=ST&show_alert=1

The NAIA capwiz has been updated to reflect the fact that CA AB1634 will go before the full assembly. The capwiz is set to send messages to a California resident's assembly member based on zip code. Out of
staters can write and print out a letter to the Assembly Speaker and Speaker pro Tempore and fax it to the phone numbers provided.

We don't yet know when the bill will be heard in the Assembly, but it is not too soon if a resident to contact one’s representative and if out of
state, per the NAIA alert, write to the Assembly Speaker and Speark pro Tempore. See for contact info:
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/defaulttext.asp and click on "Find My District."

www.noab1634.com

http://www.saveourdogs.net/

What I found most disturbing listening to the hearing yesterday was the drama opponents bring to the discussion as to how the dogs are killed
and what happens to their bodies. And for politicians, who are not dogmen and dogwomen, the emotion surrounding the shelter situation can
outweigh reasonable thinking – party politics aside. Somehow, we have to slip in between emotion and bad voting to refute the points of this proposal which are so off-track. Nobody wants to see animals put down in shelters – but clearly this bill is not the answer to that.

What I also heard live and later from friends who were there: one Committee member displayed the letters received by his office on this --
10"-15" stack of opposition letters vs. a 4" stack from those in favor. Somehow, we have to top ourselves with the whole Assembly now.

I wrote the following thank yous to Assemblymembers Caballero and Ma:

"I want to personally thank you for your "no" vote on AB 1634 in the Appropriations Committee. This bill, if passed, will solely hurt law abiding honest owners and severely damage the reputable breeders and dog owners. This bill will not stop backyard breeders and the inundation of unwanted animals at shelters. Most often the individuals who allow their intact dogs to run loose and breed at will don't even license their dogs. This bill will severely damage those of us who are following the rules, licensing our dogs and doing everything right. Additionally, it is another unnecessary fee on the public. Thank you again for your vote against this legislation."

Back in February I wrote my Assemblymember (Plescia) and received a phone call from him the following day(NOT a staff member) We spent almost 45 minutes discussing this bill (basically I was educating him on the dog community in general, laws already on the books, the negative impact of this bill, etc.). I have received his commitment that he will vote NO (both verbally AND in writing)on this bill.

Come on everyone in California! Please, please just take a minute or two to write an e-mail to your assemblymember. I am NOT a politically active person and not real outspoken, so if I can do this, anyone can!