This measure would declare a shelter pet as the official State Pet.

This measure would declare a shelter pet as the official State Pet.

This measure would declare a shelter pet as the official State Pet.

This measure would declare a shelter pet as the official State Pet.

WHEREAS, There are currently around eight million abandoned pets living in animal shelters in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Three to four million of these dogs and cats are euthanized every year; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature seeks to raise public awareness of shelter animals; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares a shelter pet as the official State Pet; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, There are currently around eight million abandoned pets living in animal shelters in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Three to four million of these dogs and cats are euthanized every year; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature seeks to raise public awareness of shelter animals; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares a shelter pet as the official State Pet; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, There are currently around eight million abandoned pets living in animal shelters in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Three to four million of these dogs and cats are euthanized every year; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature seeks to raise public awareness of shelter animals; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate Assembly of the State of California, the Assembly Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares a shelter pet as the official State Pet; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, There are currently around eight million abandoned pets living in animal shelters in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Three to four million of these dogs and cats are euthanized every year; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature seeks to raise public awareness of shelter animals; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares a shelter pet as the official State Pet; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:ACR 56

Author:(Linder)

As Amended Ver:August 31, 2015

Majority vote

Original Committee Reference: G.O.

SUMMARY: This measure would declare a shelter pet as the Official State Pet.

EXISTING LAW: Currently, California has 36 official state symbols, ranging from the State Flower (the Golden Poppy) to the State Soil (The San Joaquin Soil).

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown. This bill is non-fiscal by the Legislative Counsel.

COMMENTS:

Background: According to the State Humane Association of California, over 800,000 animals each year are taken into California's public and private shelters. These shelters work across the State to rescue, rehabilitate, and find a home for these animals. However, due to limited time and lack of resources, roughly 40% of shelter animals in California are euthanized.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, roughly 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats. Each year, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized, while 2.7 million shelter animals are adopted.

Purpose of the Measure: According to the author, each year, more than 800,000 animals are taken in by California's public and private shelters, with fewer than half adopted into new homes. SPCA's, municipal animal shelters and humane societies often nurse severely sick animals back to health and are able to match them with permanent homes.

Across the nation an estimated 3-4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year. Although down from prior years, only about 30% of pets in homes are from shelters, leaving millions of shelter pets unadopted each year.

Far too often, shelter animals are forgotten or mistreated, and the people who work to save these animals are going above and beyond. By designating them the California State Pet, we bring special awareness to the plight of these special animals.

The Senate amendments make technical and clarifying changes.

Analysis Prepared by: Kenton Stanhope / G.O. / (916) 319-2531 FN: 0002048

 THIRD READING 

Bill No: ACR 56

Author: Linder (R), et al.

Introduced: 4/20/15

Vote: 21

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 7/16/15 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Official State Pet

SOURCE: Social Compassion in Legislation

State Humane Association of California

DIGEST:

This resolution declares a shelter pet as the official State Pet.

ANALYSIS: This resolution states the following:

1. Approximately eight million abandoned pets live in animal shelters in the United States.

2. Three to four million of these dogs and cats are euthanized every year.

This resolution states that the Legislature seeks to raise public awareness of shelter animals by declaring a shelter pet as the official State Pet.

Background

According to the State Humane Association of California, over 800,000 animals each year are taken into California’s public and private shelters. These shelters work across the state to rescue, rehabilitate, and find a home for these animals. However, due to limited time and lack of resources, roughly 40% of shelter animals in California are euthanized.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, roughly 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats. Each year, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized, while 2.7 million shelter animals are adopted.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/18/15)

Social Compassion in Legislation (co-source)

State Humane Association of California (co-source)

Beagle Freedom Project

Calaveras Humane Society

Fix Fido

Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter

Lorraine Thomas Amador County Animal Shelter

Pets in Need

Social Compassion in Legislation

Solano County Animal Care Advisory Commission

Stockton Animal Services

Yucca Valley Animal Care and Control

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/18/15)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author, “By naming the Shelter Pet as the official California State Pet, the California Legislature will send a strong signal of support for California’s public and private shelters that work every day, year round, to save unwanted animals, bring them back to health, provide them safe harbor off the streets and out of abusive homes, and ultimately hope to either reunite lost pets with their loving owners, or find new and caring homes. By making the shelter pet the official state pet, it would encourage people to first consider adopting an existing animal residing in a shelter, giving shelters a valuable new tool to help bring attention to the millions of animals waiting for adoption.”

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 7/16/15

AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Perea, Quirk, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Atkins

NO VOTE RECORDED: Gordon

Prepared by: Melissa Ward / SFA / (916) 651-1520

8/19/15 20:34:41

**** END ****

Date of Hearing: July 8, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION

Adam Gray, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:ACR 56 (

Author:Linder) – As Introduced Ver:April 20, 2015

SUBJECT: Official State Pet.

SUMMARY: This measure would declare a shelter pet as the official State Pet.

EXISTING LAW: Currently, California has 36 official state symbols, ranging from the State Flower (the Golden Poppy) to the State Soil (The San Joaquin Soil).

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS:

Background: According to the State Humane Association of California, over 800,000 animals each year are taken into California’s public and private shelters. These shelters work across the State to rescue, rehabilitate, and find a home for these animals. However, due to limited time and lack of resources, roughly 40% of shelter animals in California are euthanized.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, roughly 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats. Each year, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized, while 2.7 million shelter animals are adopted.

Purpose of the Measure: According to the author, Each year, more than 800,000 animals are taken in by California’s public and private shelters, with fewer than half adopted into new homes. SPCA’s, municipal animal shelters and humane societies often nurse severely sick animals back to health and are able to match them with permanent homes.

Across the nation an estimated 3-4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year. Although down from prior years, only about 30% of pets in homes are from shelters, leaving millions of shelter pets unadopted each year.

Far too often, shelter animals are forgotten or mistreated, and the people who work to save these animals are going above and beyond. By designating them the California State Pet, we bring special awareness to the plight of these special animals.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

State Humane Association of California (sponsor)

Social Compassion in Legislation (co-sponsor)

Beagle Freedom Project

Opposition

None Received

Analysis Prepared by: Kenton Stanhope / G.O. / (916) 319-2531