California Dog Owners
Hold Off Spay/Neuter Bill
Levine Can’t Get Enough Votes In Senate
By JOHN YATES
American Sporting Dog Alliance
http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org
asda@csonline.net
SACRAMENTO, CA – Animal rights activists failed to get enough votes in the Senate to pass AB 1634 on Friday, thus probably ending a two-year-long battle by dog owners against legislation that would result in widespread forced pet sterilization.
AB 1634 was called for a vote Friday, and the results were 27-5 in opposition. However, many Democrats abstained, and the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Lloyd Levine and Sen. Alex Padilla, were accorded the courtesy of bringing up the legislation again next week if they think they can muster enough support to pass it.
The Senate adjourned following the vote, so that the Democrats can go to their party’s presidential nominating convention. The Senate will reconvene August 28, and must conclude business by midnight August 31, when the legislative session expires.
Dog owners cannot declare victory until after the session expires, but Senate observers now believe that it is virtually impossible for Levine and Padilla to get enough votes to pass AB 1634.
It would take 21 votes to pass it, and 27 senators voted against it on Friday. There are 41 members of the Senate, and that means nine members abstained or were absent. Those nine members would not be enough to pass the legislation, even if they all voted for it. Moreover, the Senate would have to pass the measure quickly, as the entire assembly would have to vote to concur with several amendments before the August 31 deadline.
For dog owners, it looks very good.
The American Sporting Dog Alliance has staunchly opposed AB 1634 in all of its amended forms. We also have supported several great California organizations that worked very hard to defeat this legislation. This apparent victory shows what can happen when dog owners unite, stand up and be counted.
Winning this battle wasn’t easy, as we were up against every large statewide and national animal rights group. These powerful groups threw many millions of dollars into their effort to force the sterilization of all dogs and cats in California. AB 1634 was the number one priority for animal rights groups, but their money and power weren’t enough to defeat dog owners when we stood our ground and fought back.
The days leading up to Friday’s vote were hectic and confused, with Levine gutting the bill early this week and gaining a pact of non-opposition from the American Kennel Club. AKC’s agreement with Levine drew heavy fire from many other dog owners’ organizations.
Then, late yesterday, Levine reneged on his deal with the AKC and announced plans to change the legislation yet again, in a desperate effort to gain more votes. This violation of trust caused AKC to once again announce its vigorous opposition to the bill. In turn, Levine backed off making any changes today, so that he once again could claim non-opposition from AKC. The version that was voted on in the Senate today was the version that the AKC Board voted not to oppose.
The American Sporting Dog Alliance and most California groups have been unwavering in our opposition to AB 1634.
While this fight has been exhausting, we are asking California dog owners to do one more thing. Please write to as many California state senators as you can and thank them for voting down the legislation today. Also, please ask them to continue to oppose it if Levine attempts to bring it up again in the closing days of the session.
Thank these Senators for Voting NO on AB1634 and please consider voting for them in November:
Voted NO Phone Mailing Address
Ellen Corbett (Dem) 916-651-4010 State Capitol, Room 5080, Sacramento, CA 95814
Louis Correa (Dem) 916-651-4034 State Capitol, Room 5100, Sacramento, CA 95814
Denise Moreno Ducheny (Dem) 916-651-4040 State Capitol, Room 3048, Sacramento, CA 95814
Dean Florez (Dem) 916-651-4016 State Capitol, Room 3092, Sacramento, CA 95814
Alan Lowenthal (Dem) 916-651-4027 State Capitol, Room 4062, Sacramento, CA 95814
Carole Migden (Dem) 916-651-4003 State Capitol, Room 2068, Sacramento, CA 95814
Jenny Oropeza (Dem) 916-651-4028 State Capitol, Room 3076, Sacramento, CA 95814
Don Perata (Dem) 916-651-4009 State Capitol, Room 5035, Sacramento, CA 95814
Mark Ridley-Thomas (Dem) 916-651-4026 State Capitol, Room 5094, Sacramento, CA 95814
Gloria Romero (Dem) 916-651-4024 State Capitol, Room 5061, Sacramento, CA 95814
Jack Scott (Dem) 916-651-4021 State Capitol, Room 2052, Sacramento, CA 95814
Joe Simitian (Dem) 916-651-4011 State Capitol, Room 5064, Sacramento, CA 95814
Leland Yee (Dem) 916-651-4008 State Capitol, Room 4038, Sacramento, CA 95814
Sam Aanestad (Rep) 916-651-4004 State Capitol, Room 5108, Sacramento, CA 95814
##*%* Ackerman (Rep) 916-651-4033 State Capitol, Room 2032, Sacramento, CA 95814
Roy Ashburn (Rep) 916-651-4018 State Capitol, Room 5066, Sacramento, CA 95814
Dave Cogdill (Rep) 916-651-4014 State Capitol, Room 4082, Sacramento, CA 95814
Dave Cox (Rep) 916-651-4001 State Capitol, Room 3082, Sacramento, CA 95814
Jeff Denham (Rep) 916-651-4012 State Capitol, Room 3070, Sacramento, CA 95814
Bob Dutton (Rep) 916-651-4031 State Capitol, Room 2059, Sacramento, CA 95814
Tom Harman (Rep) 916-651-4035 State Capitol, Room 5114, Sacramento, CA 95814
Dennis Hollingsworth (Rep) 916-651-4036 State Capitol, Room 4074, Sacramento, CA 95814
Abel Maldonado (Rep) 916-651-4015 State Capitol, Room 4032, Sacramento, CA 95814
Bob Margett (Rep) 916-651-4029 State Capitol, Room 205, Sacramento, CA 95814
Tom McClintock (Rep) 916-651-4019 State Capitol, Room 4061, Sacramento, CA 95814
George Runner (Rep) 916-651-4017 State Capitol, Room 313, Sacramento, CA 95814
Mark Wyland (Rep) 916-651-4038 State Capitol, Room 5097, Sacramento, CA 95814
Thank these Senators for Not Supporting AB1634:
Abstained Phone Mailing Address
Ron Calderon (Dem) 916-651-4030 State Capitol, Room 2082, Sacramento, CA 95814
Christine Kehoe (Dem) 916-651-4039 State Capitol, Room 2080, Sacramento, CA 95814
Sheila Kuehl (Dem) 916-651-4023 State Capitol, Room 4035, Sacramento, CA 95814
Darrell Steinberg (Dem) 916-651-4006 State Capitol, Room 5050, Sacramento, CA 95814
Patricia Wiggins (Dem) 916-651-4002 State Capitol, Room 5052, Sacramento, CA 95814
James Battin (Rep) 916-651-4037 State Capitol, Room 4081, Sacramento, CA 95814
Gilbert Cedillo (Dem) 916-651-4022 State Capitol, Room 4066, Sacramento, CA 95814
Edward Vincent (Dem) 916-651-4025 State Capitol, Room 4048, Sacramento, CA 95814
Try to change the minds of these senators who voted for the bill, and PLEASE don’t vote for them in the fall election unless they do change their minds:
Elaine Alquist (Dem)
Mike Machado (Dem)
Gloria Negrete McLeod (Dem)
Alex Padilla (Dem)
Tom Torlakson (Dem)
The American Sporting Dog Alliance represents owners, hobby breeders and professionals who work with all breeds of dogs, and especially with a focus on the breeds that are used for hunting. We are a grassroots movement working to protect the rights of dog owners, and to assure that the traditional relationships between dogs and humans maintains its rightful place in American society and life. Please visit us on the web at
http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org. Our email is
ASDA@csonline.net. Complete directions to join by mail or online are found at the bottom left of each page.
The American Sporting Dog Alliance also needs your help so that we can continue to work to protect the rights of dog owners. Your membership, participation and support are truly essential to the success of our mission. We are funded solely by the donations of our members, and maintain strict independence.
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