Hello Sir,

I too am a Republican in full support of the fantastic bill AB 1634. It truly is a path to my dream of a no-kill world where there is a shortage of cats and dogs because they are all spayed! Can you imagine... No more deaths!

Thank you for your site. After this bill passes each state one by one will follow the lead of CA.

JS

As a responsible Republican,

I am saddened and disgusted everytime I see an ad in the newspaper or Internet for an animal for sale. It has become far too easy for people to make a living by breeding poor innocent animals while hundreds of others are having to be put to sleep just because these people are so selfish and too lazy to get out and make a real living. I just hope and pray that this is the beginning to becoming a nationwide law.

KG

I live in the City of Bakersfield,

located in Kern County, California. We currently have no mandatory spay/neuter ordinances and as a result our community is faced with the financial and ethical burden of destroying over one thousand unwanted pets every month here. AB 1634 is the only hope here in Kern County to bring relief to taxpayers and to the innocent discarded pets that continue to be ushered to their deaths by the thousands.

Kern County is the geographical center of the State of California, and so, some would suggest that Kern is the heart of California. But for pets, Kern County is the heart of darkness... evidenced by the impenetrable jungle of bureaucracy that prevents the more humane concepts of the 21st century from entering here. This darkness has so completely engulfed this community and its officials that their minds, clouded by outdated thinking, cannot grasp onto the hope that change could provide, but have instead descended into madness -- a madness that is evidenced by their willingness to needlessly, yet continuously, destroy these large volumes of innocent animals.

CA AB 1634 is the only hope for thousands of innocent, discarded pets here in Kern County, California.

KE

I am a Dermatologist

who is not involved in animal rescue, but does support this bill. I have been a true compassionate conservative, which is what I thought the Republicans stood for. A bill like AB 1634 not only saves the state money it desperately needs, but will save thousands of innocent animal lives.

Why are the Republicans harboring illegal breeders who are supposed to pay taxes on the sale of the puppies they sell? THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW!!! My tax dollars are going to killing animals when these illegal breeders are getting off scot-free with the help of my Republican party!!

So this is the side you support? Because you are not listening to the many Republicans who support this bill. You are being duped - or is compassionate conservatism dead? Or did it never exist? I must rethink my future support of this party. I'm very disappointed with the political party I have supported for over forty years.

Shame on you for not supporting a humane, sensible approach to an awful problem. You will never win future elections making such bad, out of touch decisions. You still have time to save face. Make the right choices. Support this bill now!

Dr. D.H.

Thank you for this website!!

I am a registered Republican of many years and almost always have voted straight Republican. I have been very dismayed about the Republican Party stance on this bill and the Republican Assembly Member votes. I have supported the bill from its introduction (for all the obvious reasons; to me its a "no-brainer").

I feel so strongly that it has made me question my party affiliation. I live in the Los Angeles area (Manhattan Beach). Let me know what I can do to help!

D.C.

I think that AB1634 is a step in the right direction

and will help reduce the number of abandon pets on our city streets, and shelters. It is the responsibility of everyone to manage their pets and that includes having their pets spayed and neutered.

Thank You,

R.C.
Registered Republican.

I support the CA Healthy Pets Act

because aside from loving animals and disliking unecessary taxes, I am a vet tech who knows that spaying or neutering your animal makes them MEDICALLY HEALTHIER! Not only does it lengthen their lives and make them far less likely to show aggressive or marking behavior, it prevents tumors, fatal infection, and cancers of the reproductive sytems, consequences which I see all too frequently in unaltered adult animals. I pesonally see this all the time and urge any pet owners I meet on the street to fix their animal promptly for their companion's own health.

I hope this puts another angle on your campaign.

Thank you for supporting this. I STRONGLY believe that this act is a step forward.

A.B.
San Diego, CA

I couldn't agree more,

when I first heard about this bill months ago, I assumed that Republicans were behind it, because of the tax implications. I have since learned more than I ever wanted to know about the amount of money we are wasting in this state killing animals, and the people who feel they can sell animals without paying taxes on the sales.

I am conservative because I think for myself. I have no interest in a party doing my bidding for me. My positions are based upon the facts as I see them. I am angered by the amount of money our government wastes on this, and I can clearly see that this bill presents a well thought out, fair solution. I am for this bill and would be happy to join you and do whatever it takes to pass it, reduce the amount of money we are wasting and start collecting taxes from those who are currently avoiding them.

L.J.

Thank you for your website

and for your support of AB1634! Please find attached two letters I have written to Senator George Runner, a Republican. I come from a family of Republicans and was surprised to hear that Senator Runner plans to oppose this bill. I hope that his mind can be changed when presented with the facts as your website clearly laid out.

Thank you for your work toward a far better future for our animals!!

J.W.

I am a fellow Republican

and was appalled that not a single Republican in the Assembly voted in favor of this bill. This should not be a partisan issue. I have NEVER been happy about CA being a Democrat majority state until now.

I volunteer at our local shelter and foster SPCA puppies. I support AB1634.

A.V.

Thank you

for supporting this bill. It's long overdue!!

K.M.
La Mesa, CA

As a rescue group,

I see first hand the effect of irresponsible owners who do not spay or neuter their cats. Unfortunately, there is a never-ending flood of unwanted cats and kittens and never enough homes. I strongly urge all legislators to support the passage of The California Health Pets Act spay/neuter law. Please stop the endless suffering and ultimate euthanasia of so many unwanted pets housed in our shelters.

D.C.

I cannot tell you how much I am in favor

of this bills passing. Literally thousands of pets are turned out on the streets because owners move or just discard them. What do they do? They breed. If you care at all about any type of animal whatsoever you will vote YES on this proposition.

A.M.

Thank you for your efforts

on behalf of all of us taxpayers out here in California. Not to mention the benefits to the animals. Our Humane Society needs the relief as well. I can't count all the strays I have picked up over the years and found homes for. I am no longer able to keep more than 2 both of which are rescued. One from a breeder who bred her and put her thru 3 C-sections before she was 4 years old because she wouldn't conform for show. So I don't have a lot of sympathy for breeders either. The other one was a puppy who was apparently abandoned at about 4 months old. These are God's creatures too and they are here for a reason just like we are. Unfortunately, too many people have no respect for animals...they get a cute little cat or dog for kids who aren't going to take care of them and then they simply drop them off somewhere for someone else to take care of or join a pack of wild dogs and they don't usually survive on the streets. This is why I support this bill and always will.

Too many animals, dogs and cats are put to sleep in an effort to control a growing population. This system is obviously NOT working and needs to be changed. This bill is the only thing that has come close to making sense. Once again, thank you and show this to Bob Filner as I am one of his constituents and would love to see him get behind this.

B.Y.
San Diego

I support this bill whole heartedly!

I think it will be very effective in keeping down the unwanted pet population and the number of animals sent to animal shelters.

Thank you for your work,

L.E.

I am definitely in support

of the proposed spay/neuter bill. I have been a volunteer at our local animal shelter for over two years and I see firsthand the results of NO regulations regarding spay/neuter. Every week I see the sad faces of dogs and cats who await their fate thru no fault of their own.

These are living creatures who deserve better than to end up at the shelter because people are not responsible.

I do think a point that people (taxpayers) are missing is the concern about what this bill will cost them. I don't think they stop to think about how much money they are already spending to deal with this "problem" every year.

It does seem logical to deal with the overpopulation issue at the source instead of after all of these beautiful dogs and cats are born and then end up at the shelter labeled "unwanted." As you said, this bill solves a great problem at NO increase in cost to the taxpayers.

I have always wondered why people say the reason the animals are at a shelter in the first place is because there aren't enough homes. If that is the case then why are there still so many people selling animals? Why are those people still in business if there aren't enough homes?? I'm hoping this bill will put some of these irresponsible people out of business so good homes can be given to animals already born, just waiting patiently at the shelters for their big chance.

Please urge everyone to vote YES on this important bill. The animals whose lives are in your hands also thank you. It's (way past) time someone stood up and spoke for those sweet cats and dogs who cannot speak for themselves.

B.B.
Atwater, California

Why do I support the AB1634 Healthy Pets Act?

I am a volunteer for an organization calls C.A.T.S. (Cat Adoption Service).

We rescue animals born in the wild to feral cats who are the offspring of unspayed outdoor pets, in addition to pulling kittens from local shelters, who are over burdened. Otherwise, these kittens would most likely have been euthanized. During the "breeding season" at any one time, should I visit the shelter, there are at least 35 to 40 LITTERS of kittens. Each litter ranging from 4 to 7 kittens. Many of these are relinquished by the local public who's UNFIXED "Fluffy" has had yet another litter. Some days are just basically euthanasia days. The kittens are healthy, but there are no more foster homes, and no more outlets, nor people who want to adopt. The supply has simply overwhelmed the demand.

I would ask anyone who is voting against this bill, who proposes that "there is no pet over-population problem" to WAKE THE HELL UP. I would gladly round these people up, rent a bus and we could all visit the Shelter in Chula Vista, CA for example. We as rescue folks are simply folding under the pressure. I feel that I can't do anymore than I do.

A short story: A family in my neighborhood was recently evicted from their rental property. They left behind 3 eight month old UN-SPAYED female "kittens". These cats each had litters. One litter was never found. I've smelled something under the house, but can't get myself to go investigate.
One litter I have in my home, and they will soon go to a PetCo or PetsMart location for adoption - AFTER BEING FIXED! When taking the mothers in to be fixed, one was once again pregnant. So, there you had a total of 17 kittens on the property, left behind, who didn't have to be born. Mind you, they are darling little creatures, but they have taken away the lives of other kittens who will be euthanized.

I thank you for your time and your consideration and your support of this important piece of legislation.

M.H.
Lemon Grove, CA

I am IN FAVOR of AB 1634 - PLEASE VOTE YES ON AB 1634!!!

I am a Republican, I am a dog breeder in California, I have a licensed dog kennel and I own 10 AKC registered dogs. I participate in dog shows in California and all over the country with my dogs and I have finished numerous champions from my breedings. I've shown my dogs at both Westminster and Eukanuba. I love my sport. I think AB 1634 would definitely help and is a preventative measure to curb the pet over population in CA. AB 1634 would still allow legitimate breeders to continue breeding and showing their dogs and cats, as we have been under the laws already in place. For breeders who are currently operating within the law, this bill would not have any significant negative impact on them. For breeders who are not currently operating within the law, this bill would not make them any more "legal" or "illegal" than they already are under the zoning laws in place now.

When I first realized that I was in the minority of breeders who are in favor of AB 1634, I was shocked! I feel it is the least we breeders can do to help the sad situation of so many dogs and cats who are unfortunate enough to end up in the shelters. When I talk with my non dog/cat breeding and showing friends and family about the negative reaction from the breeders to this proposed bill, they are shocked as well that so many breeders are against this bill! Myself, my friends and family just assumed that if we were animal lovers we would see that this is the correct and ethical thing to do. I am sorry to say that (in my opinion) AB 1634 has shed light on a very negative side of the breeding and the showing community...and that is, it can sometimes be a very selfish and self-centered group. What the breeders who are opposed to AB 1634 don't seem to realize is "it's not all about them". AB 1634 would still allow us to carry on with our hobby, and the beauty of it is, it would also help to prevent the deaths of so many helpless and innocent dogs and cats.

I hope those of you who determine the fate of this bill will take into consideration the needs of the weakest and the most vulnerable here, the needs of those who's lives will be the most affected by either the success or defeat of AB 1634. That has to be for the hundreds of thousands of animals in the shelters. AB 1634 is about life and death for them and preventing their needless suffering.....it's not about the life and death of a hobby.

D.F.

I am SO hoping for this bill to pass.

I have done animal rescue for years and have recently stopped. It seems hopeless as so many beautiful puppies, dogs, kittens, cats are put down every day just because their owners were not responsible or because of the "maybe I can make a few extra bucks" selling mentality of backyard unlicensed breeders.

I am a Republican and support this bill whole-heartedly!!!

K.H.
Lemon Grove, CA

Your website is thoughtfully written,

and the points you make are well-taken and reasonable. AB 1634 is a very good starting point to correcting some very long-standing problems:

(1) on-going over-breeding and lack of responsible pet ownership;

(2) spiraling shelter costs associated with overbreeding because of backyard breeders and indifferent pet owners;

(3) greed superseding humane treatment of animals--so many get euthanized as a result;

(4) humans who release unwanted cats & dogs onto society and surrender "problem" or hostile dogs at shelters;

(5) less healthy, aggressive pets; and

(6) lack of any regulations in the animal breeding area. The latter is just what irresponsible pet owners and breeders want, but who foots the bill--the CALIFORNIA TAXPAYER!! Not the AKC, not local and out-of-state breeders, not the pet food and pet business companies.

Also, let's not forget the animals who are not or cannot be adopted and are euthanized and disposed of. They do not deserve this.

While one can argue over-legislation, California legislators have seen fit to overlegislate and intrude in other areas of our daily lives. The legitimate, responsible breeders, who are business owners, have no reason to oppose this bill. Our legislators, particularly our Republican legislators, need to see what the current situation on domestic pet overpopulation is truly costing us. Dogs, cats, even bunnies, are put down on a daily basis in shelters across the state. This type of work, and volunteer work, too, takes an emotional toll on so many. Perhaps a visit by our legislators to several shelters in their area, and a look at the skyrocketing costs associated with staffing, volunteer support and training, kennel cages, equipment, food, cleaning, veterinarian services, euthanization, and disposal of these unwanted animals might change their minds and compel them to support AB 1634. This bill makes sense and can be amended in future, should it need tweaking.

Thank you for your great work on this,

CCP
Fountain Valley, CA

I have heard the argument

that this bill does not address the feral cat issue, I feel it will help us with this because it will help stop the source of the cats. I volunteer with TNR and it is just heartbreaking.

I'm a Republican. Thank you.

Dorothy
San Diego, CA

I am a long time Republican

and a staunch fiscal conservative. I feel betrayed by my party in general, and in particular by my local state senator, Dick Ackerman and my assemblyman Chuck Devore who are opposing AB1634. How can they fail to support a bill that would save some of the 300 million dollars a year we California taxpayers a year pay for shelter care for over 800,000 abandoned animals a year?

I am particularly shocked since both of these individuals own pets. How can any pet owner not be moved by the humane aspects of this bill? I have spoken to both legislators offices and asked them why they oppose the bill, and have gotten pretty wimpy answers. De Vore's office says that counties and cities should make their own legislation. Why make each county reinvent the wheel?

This is a statewide problem. Several counties are involved in authoring the state bill. Some rural counties which really need the bill might be hesitant to pass a bill to avoid offending residents who keep large groups of farm dogs or barn cats. Ackerman told me that he opposed the bill because "responsible pet owners already spay and neuter their pets". That is true, but why should we responsible pet owners pay the $300 million dollar tab for the irresponsible ones.

I want my party to stick to their principles. Word has it that the Republican caucus in Sacramento is strongly opposing this bill and the real reason is money from the AKC. As President of a local Cat Club, whose members have passed a resolution to support AB 1634, and also as an animal rescuer, who sees the suffering first hand, I consider this one of the most important, if not the most important piece of legislation to be considered during this session.

I do not plan to support any legislator who votes against this bill.
Furthermore, I will make it my business to inform every pet lover I know statewide, about the actions of their legislator :re: AB 1634, so that they can make their own decisions about future support.

K.W.

Hi, I am a resident of California

in the 95829 zip code and of voting age and a member of the Republican party.

I own four dogs all neutered and I am in favor of this bill and I especially like the provision of the one time breeding for individuals and the exclusions of many breedings by the hobby breeder and/or back yard breeder.

Please let the Senators know that I support the revisions of this bill.

Thank you.

L.C.

Thank you for supporting AB 1634.

Being a humanitarian, and a concerned tax paying citizen in California, I strongly urge the passing of this bill. In addition, this bill would reduce the number of unvaccinated animals roaming the streets infecting other animals, as well as humans.

I have called several Senate offices to show my support, and have been told that those who are opposed to it are calling as well. I believe that these are mostly breeders who resent having to pay higher licensing fees.

The decision makers must realize that those people who are not responsible pet owners are unfortunately in the minority. People who allow their pets to run loose,{and there are indeed many}, and those who want their pets to multiply, are the real contributors to the inhumanity to animals. 840,000 cats and dogs in California are abandoned each year. This creates expense to taxpayers, and horrible animal suffering.

Please pass this bill and allow California to be the leader for other states to show humanity and intelligence.

C.S.
Palm Springs, CA

Please challenge anyone

who does not support this bill to see the consequences.

Challenge them to spend one hour at a city or county shelter. The poor employee morale, the austere facilities, the obviously high cost of food, litter, medical care, administration, etc., and last but not least the sad eyes and voices of the hundreds of dogs and cats that in a few days will go silent. I honestly don't think the opposition to this bill is familiar with the inside of shelters. It takes a heartless person to be familiar and still oppose the bill.

D.C.

I am in FULL support

of this bill for the obvious: to save tax dollars and to save lives of animals. I am sick of ignorant people letting their animals breed uncontrollably.

The unwanted litters wind up in the city pound where we pay for it, and they eventually get destroyed. It's unacceptable and morally wrong. I have volunteered for numerous animal shelters across LA county (as well as donated whatever dollars my small paycheck can afford) and I have seen first hand what a problem we have. AB1634 is an excellent solution!

Thanks for listening!

M.G.
Los Angeles, CA

I am a Republican and I fully support AB1634

I believe the Republican legislators do understand why this bill is needed, but they are currently voting "no" for one reason and one reason only: Because the Farm Bureau is opposing this bill. The legislators feel they will lose too many votes from Farm Bureau members in their next elections if they support a bill that the Farm Bureau opposes.

What these legislators do not yet realize is that there are many more voting animal lovers than there are voting Farm Bureau members. (Just to clarify, kennel club members and cat fancier club members are generally animal users, not animal lovers. They are looking for prestige and profit.) Voting animal lovers are becoming organized in more regions of the state, and it is likely that every legislator who opposes this most necessary bill will be exposed to their animal loving constituents when they next run for office.

It is particularly reprehensible that the Republicans are being swayed by the Farm Bureau to oppose AB1634 because the bill does not even affect the business of farming or ranching in California. (Ranching and herding dogs are exempted.) It is the individual dog and cat owning farmers and ranchers who don't want to be held accountable for the breeding status of their dogs and cats, and they are using the power of their business lobby to fight against the bill that does not affect their business.

Farmers and Ranchers are generally several decades behind the rest of the population in terms of how they treat cats and dogs. They are notoriously cheap about what pet food and vet care they spend their money on. In the last few days I have encountered some farmers and ranchers who have blunted admitted if they have dogs or cats that they don't want, they just kill them. They have become so arrogant because they think they "feed the world" and therefore have diplomatic immunity to animal cruelty laws. One rancher bragged that his son treats his unaltered dogs just like children because they each have their own fenced dog run. (Funny, I thought children were allowed in the house.)

AB1634 is a fiscally conservative bill that uses personal responsibility to solve pet overpopulation, rather than publicly funding the ever increasing animal control bureaucracies. It is a very Republican bill, and it looks bad for the party when all the Republicans are opposing it.

That aside, animal welfare is an extremely popular issue now. It really will be politically bad for Republicans to vote "no" on AB1634.

S.R.

Having volunteered

at and visited animal shelters in Los Angeles and Orange Counties over a period of years, I have seen way too many animals euthanized.

I strongly support AB 1634 for the animals' sake as well as saving taxpayers money.

Thank you.,

H.C.

We are STRONGLY in favor of AB1634

and urge your continued support to pass this legislation. We have six dogs in our family of four children and seven grandchildren and all have been spayed or neutered. We feel it is an injustice to those animals that do not get neutered and may wind up in a "pound" to be removed from this planet because of their negligent owners.

Education obviously is not the answer because you can't teach dogs/cats "birth control" that is what their owners are for; however, many pet owners lack the initiative, education or even care enough to have their pets protected.

This is from our entire family of four adult, voting age children, their spouses and my husband and myself.

Thank you,

The R. Family, The K. Family, The L. Family

I am so excited

that finally legislation is working towards a long term solution and not a temporary band aid for pet overpopulation.

I applaud your efforts and will continue to vote for you! Please keep up the good work!

Regards,

T.R.

As the grandmother

of a three year old boy, I have been very concerned about the ongoing reports of dog bites and maulings . Small children are often the victims. The animals are almost always intact males. I support Ab1634 as an important public safety measure as well as a bill that has important tax saving and animal welfare benefits.

K.W