AB 1634
Encyclopedia
AB 1634 was a controversial bill(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, 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. Levine has stated his intention to reintroduce the bill in 2008.
The sponsor of the bill, Social Compassion in Legislation, has introduced a new spay/neuter bill, Senate Bill SB 250.
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.
, animal rights
groups, animal rescue groups
, Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
, humane societies
, and the Los Angeles city government. The bill has received an enormous amount of media attention.
The bill was generally opposed by pet owners, breed club
s, breeders of working dog
s, search-and-rescue dog
associations, K9 law enforcement
associations, organizations that provide guide dog
s for the blind and service dog
s for the disabled, California's agriculture
industry, animal rescue groups
, leaders in the No Kill
movement, and many veterinarians.
Supporters of the bill claim that legislative action is needed, because about 400,000 animals are euthanized (killed) in California's shelters each year, that animal shelter services cost California taxpayers $250 million a year, that a dog born in California currently has nearly a 1 in 4 chance of being ultimately euthanized in a shelter, that similar laws in individual communities in California have been successful, proving the validity of the mandatory spay/neuter concept, and that spay and neuter
improve animal health.
Opponents of the bill claim that erroneous shelter statistics are being used to support the bill, and that the experiences where mandatory spay/neuter laws have been implemented show that they increase costs to the taxpayers, and increase shelter impound and euthanasia rates, that non-punitive No Kill
programs have proven to be more effective solutions, and that official state shelter statistics indicate that impound and euthanasia rates have been generally trending downward in California for more than 30 years, that passage of the bill would harm breeding programs for pets, guide dog
s and service dog
s, search-and-rescue dogs
, police dog
s, military working dogs
, hunting dog
s, and working herding
and livestock guardian dogs, and that spay and neuter
have adverse health impacts that need to be weighed against the benefits, 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, and, finally, that a majority of veterinary medical associations in California oppose AB 1634.
Neutering
Neutering, from the Latin neuter , is the removal of an animal's reproductive organ, either all of it or a considerably large part. The process is often used in reference to males whereas spaying is often reserved for females. Colloquially, both terms are often referred to as fixing...
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, 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. Levine has stated his intention to reintroduce the bill in 2008.
The sponsor of the bill, Social Compassion in Legislation, has introduced a new spay/neuter bill, Senate Bill SB 250.
Bill supporters and bill opponents both claimed a large number of followers, and the 2007 hearings on the bill in Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
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.
Support and opposition
AB 1634 was generally supported by animal shelter directors and workersAnimal shelter
An animal shelter is a facility that houses homeless, lost, or abandoned animals; primarily a large variety of dogs and cats.Parrots, for example, are the third most common pet owned by people...
, animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
groups, animal rescue groups
Rescue group
An animal rescue group or animal rescue organization is dedicated to pet adoption. These groups take unwanted, abandoned, abused, or stray pets and attempt to find suitable new homes for them...
, Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a non-profit animal welfare organization originally founded in England in 1824 to pass laws protecting carriage horses from abuse. SPCA groups are now found in many nations, where they campaign for animal welfare, assist in cruelty to animals...
, humane societies
Humane Society
A humane society may be a group that aims to stop human or animal suffering due to cruelty or other reasons, although in many countries, it is now used mostly for societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals...
, and the Los Angeles city government. The bill has received an enormous amount of media attention.
The bill was generally opposed by pet owners, breed club
Breed club
Breed clubs are associations or clubs with activities centered around a single, specific breed of a particular species of domesticated animal. The purpose of the association will vary with the species of animal and the goals and needs of the members of the association...
s, breeders of working dog
Working dog
A working dog refers to a canine working animal, i.e., a type of dog that is not merely a pet but learns and performs tasks to assist and/or entertain its human companions, or a breed of such origin...
s, search-and-rescue dog
Search and rescue dog
The use of dogs in search and rescue is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. Dedicated handlers and well-trained dogs are required for the use of dogs to be effective in search efforts...
associations, K9 law enforcement
Police dog
A police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
associations, organizations that provide guide dog
Guide dog
Guide dogs are assistance dogs trained to lead blind and visually impaired people around obstacles.Although the dogs can be trained to navigate various obstacles, they are partially color blind and are not capable of interpreting street signs...
s for the blind and service dog
Service dog
A service dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities including visual or hearing impairment, and also to help people with mental disabilities including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and severe depression...
s for the disabled, California's agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
industry, animal rescue groups
Rescue group
An animal rescue group or animal rescue organization is dedicated to pet adoption. These groups take unwanted, abandoned, abused, or stray pets and attempt to find suitable new homes for them...
, leaders in the No Kill
No-kill Shelter
A kill shelter is an animal shelter where animals are euthanized if they are too sick to be treated or too aggressive to be suitable for adoption or due to lack of shelter space...
movement, and many veterinarians.
Supporters of the bill claim that legislative action is needed, because about 400,000 animals are euthanized (killed) in California's shelters each year, that animal shelter services cost California taxpayers $250 million a year, that a dog born in California currently has nearly a 1 in 4 chance of being ultimately euthanized in a shelter, that similar laws in individual communities in California have been successful, proving the validity of the mandatory spay/neuter concept, and that spay and neuter
Neutering
Neutering, from the Latin neuter , is the removal of an animal's reproductive organ, either all of it or a considerably large part. The process is often used in reference to males whereas spaying is often reserved for females. Colloquially, both terms are often referred to as fixing...
improve animal health.
Opponents of the bill claim that erroneous shelter statistics are being used to support the bill, and that the experiences where mandatory spay/neuter laws have been implemented show that they increase costs to the taxpayers, and increase shelter impound and euthanasia rates, that non-punitive No Kill
No-kill Shelter
A kill shelter is an animal shelter where animals are euthanized if they are too sick to be treated or too aggressive to be suitable for adoption or due to lack of shelter space...
programs have proven to be more effective solutions, and that official state shelter statistics indicate that impound and euthanasia rates have been generally trending downward in California for more than 30 years, that passage of the bill would harm breeding programs for pets, guide dog
Guide dog
Guide dogs are assistance dogs trained to lead blind and visually impaired people around obstacles.Although the dogs can be trained to navigate various obstacles, they are partially color blind and are not capable of interpreting street signs...
s and service dog
Service dog
A service dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities including visual or hearing impairment, and also to help people with mental disabilities including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and severe depression...
s, search-and-rescue dogs
Search and rescue dog
The use of dogs in search and rescue is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. Dedicated handlers and well-trained dogs are required for the use of dogs to be effective in search efforts...
, police dog
Police dog
A police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
s, military working dogs
War dog
Dogs in warfare have a long history starting in ancient times. From 'war dogs' trained in combat to their use as scouts, sentries and trackers, their uses have been varied and some continue to exist in modern military usage.-History:...
, hunting dog
Hunting dog
A hunting dog refers to any dog who assists humans in hunting. There are several types of hunting dogs developed for various tasks. The major categories of hunting dogs include hounds, terriers, dachshunds, cur type dogs, and gun dogs...
s, and working herding
Herding dog
A herding dog, also known as a stock dog or working dog, is a type of pastoral dog that either has been trained in herding or belongs to breeds developed for herding...
and livestock guardian dogs, and that spay and neuter
Neutering
Neutering, from the Latin neuter , is the removal of an animal's reproductive organ, either all of it or a considerably large part. The process is often used in reference to males whereas spaying is often reserved for females. Colloquially, both terms are often referred to as fixing...
have adverse health impacts that need to be weighed against the benefits, therefore spay and neuter
Neutering
Neutering, from the Latin neuter , is the removal of an animal's reproductive organ, either all of it or a considerably large part. The process is often used in reference to males whereas spaying is often reserved for females. Colloquially, both terms are often referred to as fixing...
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, and, finally, that a majority of veterinary medical associations in California oppose AB 1634.