There is no doubt in the minds of everyone, that the U.S. and the world are in dire financial straits. Yes, spending cutbacks are needed, especially via pork-barrel legislation. But to cut state costs at the expense of voiceless animals' lives is going entirely too far. The present time mandated in the State of California from the day of admittance to an animal to a shelter to the day of its death by euthanasia is six days. In his latest budget proposal, Gov. Schwarznegger proposes cutting that reprieve back to three days - barely time for owners to discover their cat missing, track him down to a local shelter, then arrange for his release. Add work hours vs shelter hours, family sickness, or other contingencies to the mix, and many cats with owners would die needlessly.
This isn't the first time Schwarznegger has turned a cold shoulder to the needs of animals. In 2004, he proposed a similar law, but was cut down by his constituents and backed off. In 2008, he proposed taxing veterinary care, classifying it as a "luxury," but was again defeated by a public outcry.
Kiska Icard, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, told SFGate that suspending the state requirement on animal shelters to hold strays at least six days to save the state $24.6 million would result in euthanizing more animals.
"Obviously monies need to come from somewhere, but to do it on the backs of these animals is just really sad," she said.
How You Can Help:
If you are as concerned as I am about this proposed change, you can do several thing, both to stop this proposal in its tracks, or to protect your own pets, should it take effect.
- Email, phone, or fax Governor Schwarznegger
- Locate and Contact Your State Legislators
- Keep Your Cats Indoors
Cats kept indoors will not end up at the pound. - Identify Your Cat With a Microchip or Tatto
Fit him in a collar with the tags attached, in the event he is picked up by animal control.
Comments
Franny, thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. What a truly heartbreaking measure. I hope and pray that, once again, the cats’ advocates across the country and beyond will be able to prevent this from happening. I’ve just written the following e-mail to the governor:
Dear Gov. Schwarzenegger,
I am writing with great concern over the proposed cutback in the time between a cat’s arrival at a CA shelter and his or her death by euthanasia. While I certainly understand the need to reduce state costs, I implore you to please reconsider this measure. Three days is scarcely enough time for a cat’s guardians to realize their beloved pet is missing, track the cat down at a shelter, and arrange to have the cat returned. I fear this measure would needlessly and tragically end the lives of loved pets who become lost.
Gov. Schwarzenegger, I have been grateful for your many decisions in favor of mercy and generosity of spirit towards your constituents of all ages, races and socioeconomic brackets. I beg of you to please now have mercy upon the most vulnerable – helpless animals – and also the people for whom these pets are truly family. There are many, many, many single people, elderly people and ordinary families to whom their cats mean the world. Please, please have mercy upon these families and their pets by not rolling back the time a cat can spend at a shelter before being euthanized.
Respectfully,
Angela
Thanks again, Franny, for helping us to mobilize against this!
I put this on twitter so hopefully thousands of people will make this viral and the “Governator” will change his mind.
I put this on twitter so hopefully thousands of people will make it viral and the “Governator” will change his mind.
I have sent this to all my friends, hopefully he will not go through with this.
Franny, thank you for bringing this to our attention. As a resident of CA, I realize our state is in real trouble financially, but the idea of cutting a lost animal’s time in a shelter in half is an atrocity. I’ve already sent my email to the governor and will forward your article to all friends.
I’ve always had my suspicions about Arnold’s Nazi past and now I have the proof. We need to terminate his plan. By the way, what is twitter?
Sean
Compared to the cuts in other areas of the state’s budget, I’m sorry to say this, in the eyes of the budget, is a very small matter. There are families going without help, and state parks are going to be closed, and there’s not much anyone can do because there literally is no money. So they say.
Angela, I hope you dont mind, but I am going to use your letter as a backbone for mine.
I found this via twitter, and I will be RT this. I’m not in CA, but I would hope for this to go through and have a domino effect to other states. This is NOT the way to save money.
they should neuter arnold and spay and neuter human beings since were the ones destroying the planet and not the cats
Are you kidding me Mr Schwarzenegger? What if the family has left for the weekend? Are you really willing to break many families hearts and devistate the lives of little children for loosing their family pet because of your nonsense? Save some money and cut your own paycheck, it’s the least you can do for lying to the people of california.
Well Arnold doesn’t take a salary..but the legislators who got California in to this mess do!
Call your COUNTY shelters,tell them to tell the state to stay out of their business. Arnold has no business telling counties how they run their shelters!!
And yeah,it is all over twitter. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the article. In talking about this with others, I am shocked to see how many people don’t care about this issue or think it’s okay, the lesser of several evils, so to speak. There are so many other things that could be cut, not healthcare or safety either. This is insane. Stop building new government buildings, stop all NEW spending! There are several new schools being built in the UC system in southern california alone. I’m all for education, but we have plenty of colleges and as it is they’re having to cut funding for existing schools AND raise tuition. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to keep adding on medical schools, law schools, etc. when there are already some in the same area. That’s just one example. Stop killing animals to fund new projects, that’s my stance.
Email sent. Thanks, Franny.
sent emails to gov, state senator and rep. thanks for bringing this to our attention. hope people will keep cats indoors and pets microchipped, just in case.