The Marin Humane Society

Be an Advocate!

Take action to save shelter animals from the budget crisis

Because of California’s budget crisis, stray and abandoned animals are in danger. Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed reducing the amount of time animals are held in the state’s municipal animal shelters even though it would only save less than one percent of the 24 billion dollar deficit. The current requirement that stray dogs and cats be held at least four or six days (depending on hours of operation) was established by the 1997 passage of the Hayden bill. The intent of the Hayden bill is to give pet guardians more time to locate lost animals and to give unclaimed animals more time to either be adopted or transferred to an animal rescue group.

Though the Marin Humane Society would not be directly affected by these proposed changes since we are able to hold stray animals beyond the minimum hold period, many of our Pet Partnership shelters would. MHS partners with dozens of overcrowded shelters throughout California to bring more than 1,500 animals to Marin every year to find new homes.

Take action: Call to express your concern with the Governor’s proposal

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
916.445.2841

More information:
http://hsus.org/press_and_publications/
press_releases/california_animal_shelter
_budget_proposal_stray_ holding_period_060409.html

Support the Universal Declaration on
Animal Welfare

The Marin Humane Society is joining the World Society for the Protection of Animals, and hundreds of other animal welfare organizations around the world, urging the United Nations to adopt an international agreement on the welfare of animals similar to earlier initiatives on human rights and the environment.

We are seeking a total of 10 million signatures on the “Animals Matter to Me” petition, making it the most ambitious global initiative on animal welfare that has ever been attempted.

Sign the Animals Matter To Me Petition

A Universal Declaration accepted by the UN would:

Recognize animals as sentient beings, capable of suffering and experiencing pain
Recognize that animal welfare is an issue of importance as a part of the social development of nations
Act as a catalyst for better animal welfare provisions worldwide

Reaching the goal of 10 million signatures worldwide will raise public and government awareness about animals and the importance of considering their welfare. Please also visit the Animals Matter To Me website for more information about this global campaign.

Pending Legislation

STATE

Bill: AB 1437, Improve Hen Welfare and Food Safety
Sponsor: Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael)
MHS Position: Support
More information:
http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/ab_1437
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/
CA_2009_egg_sales/explanation

MHS worked tirelessly to campaign for the passage of Proposition 2 last November. AB1437 will not only improve the living conditions for hundreds of thousands of chickens, but it will also help support those poultry operations that utilize humane standards.

Update: Inactive, may be pursued in 2010

Bill: AB 242, Dog Fighting
Sponsor: Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara)
MHS Position: Support
More information:
http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/AB_242

AB 242 increases criminal penalties for attending a dogfight. We believe that this bill is extremely important in sending a clear message that dog fighting should not be tolerated at any level. Spectators of these egregiously cruel events are equally responsible for the cruelty that dogs are subjected to in the pit and beyond.

Update: Passed out of the Assembly and now moves to the Senate. Hearing scheduled for August 17.

Bill: SB 318, Dog Fighting Forfeitures
Sponsor: Senator Ron Calderon
MHS Position: Support
More information: http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/
billtrack/Bills/SB_318

SB 318 authorizes the forfeiture of assets acquired by dog fighting participants, organizers, trainers, breeders, transporters, property owners who knowingly allow their premises to be used, and those who steal and illegally obtain dogs and other animals, including those used as bait for sparring. We believe that this bill would be helpful in the enforcement of illegal dog fighting.

Update: Passed out of Senate Public Safety and Appropriations Committee; now in the Assembly

Bill: SB 135, Tail Docking of Cattle
Sponsor: Senator Dean Florez
MHS Position: Support
More information:
http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/sb_135
http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/
press_releases/calif_taildocking.html

SB 135 will help protect cattle from unnecessary procedures. Tail docking of cattle is a painful and inhumane process that isn’t justified.

Update: Passed out of Senate Public Safety Committee and Appropriations Committee; currently in the assembly. Hearing scheduled for August 19.

FEDERAL

Bill: HR 80, Captive Primate Safety Act
Sponsor(s): Rep Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep Mark Kirk (R-IL), Sen Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sen David Vitter (R-LA)
MHS Position: Support
More information: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/
bill.xpd?bill=h111-80
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/
FED_2009_primates_pets3

HR 80 will prohibit interstate and foreign commerce in chimpanzees, monkeys, lemurs and others for the pet trade. Some states already prohibit private ownership of nonhuman primates as pets, but since these animals are often moved between states for the pet trade, federal legislation is needed to curb the interstate commerce.

Update: HR 80 passed the House in February 2009 and now moves to the Senate.

Bill: HR 1326, Great Ape Protection Act
Sponsor(s): Rep Edolphus Town (D-NY), David Reichert (R-WA), Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD)
MHS Position: Support
More information: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/
bill.xpd?bill=h111-1326
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/
FED_2009_apeprotectionact

HR 1326 will phase out the use of chimpanzees in invasive research in the United States, retire the approximately 500 federally owned chimpanzees to permanent sanctuary, and make the recent National Institutes of Health decision to end breeding on federally owned chimpanzees statutory.

Update: HR 1326 has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce

TAKE ACTION
Find your local representatives:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html