Are you Californian's aware of this?
 
 >In his effort to solve the budget crisis, California Governor
 >Schwarzenegger has taken a hatchet to years of laws enacted to protect
 >abused and abandoned animals.  The result is the "behind closed doors"
 >repeal of the Hayden bill and affiliated humane legislation, passed
 >through the years.  Whether an error of omission or commission, the
 >result will be a return to the horrible pre-1998 status quo for
 >California animal shelters if you don't act TODAY.
 >
 >The two most disturbing elements of the Governor's budget are the
return
 >of the animal holding period to only 72 hours for all animals (stray
and
 >relinquished) and the elimination of the requirement that shelters seek
 >veterinary care for animals at the shelter.
 >
 >Among the other policies that will be repealed if the current budget
 >is adopted:
 >
 >* The requirement that people convicted of cruelty to animals to pay
 >  for the costs of the animals' care while the issue of guilt is being
 >  determined.
 >* The requirement that as a condition of probation, people convicted of
 >  animal cruelty can be prevented from owning animals for three years.
 >* The law that made it a duty for shelters to use all currently
 >  acceptable methods of identification - including microchips - to
 >  determine the lawful owner of any seized or impounded animals.
 >* The State's policy preference for adoption instead of killing
animals.
 >* The requirement that shelters allow qualified animal adoption/rescue
 >  groups to take responsibility for animals if they pay the required
fee.
 >* The requirement that shelters give owner-relinquished animals a
chance
 >  to be adopted.
 >
 >The extent of the repeal caught everyone by surprise.  We have only one
 >last chance to have these draconian measures removed from the budget.
 >The budget conference committee meets one final time... this weekend.
 >They must be convinced to revisit the inclusion of the Hayden
 >legislation as part of the budget or at least to only suspend the
fiscal
 >provisions of the Hayden legislation until the budget crisis has
passed.
 >
 >Years of your work and the countless hours of hundreds of volunteers
can
 >be erased THIS WEEKEND if this repeal is allowed to occur.
 >
 >Listed below is contact information for the legislators who will be
 >meeting this weekend to approve the proposed budget.  Please contact
 >them as many times as you are able before 5pm Friday, June 25th.
 >
 >THE FATE OF MILLIONS OF ANIMALS ARE RELYING ON YOUR ACTION. SEND AN
 >EMAIL, SEND A FAX AND MAKE A CALL.
 >
 >Tell them NOT TO REPEAL THE HAYDEN LAW! THE GOVERNOR CAN ACCOMPLISH A
 >GOAL OF ZERO-BUDGET ALLOCATION BY SUSPENDING IT... HE DOESN'T NEED TO
 >REPEAL IT TO ACCOMPLISH HIS STATED GOAL!
 >
 >QUESTIONS? Contact Rich Mc Lellan, Animal Legislative Action Network,
 >[log in to unmask] OR Jennifer Fearing, United Animal Nations,
 >[log in to unmask]
 >
 >Conference Committee Members
 >
 >Chesbro, Wes (D) - Chair
 >(916) 445-3375 tel
 >[log in to unmask] email
 >(916) 445-3375 fax
 >
 >Dede Alpert (D)
 >(916) 445-3952   tel
 >[log in to unmask] email
 >(916) 327-2188 fax
 >
 >Ross Johnson (R)
 >(916) 445-4961   tel
 >*doesn't use e-mail
 >(949) 833-0696 fax
 >
 >Darrell Steinberg (D)
 >(916) 319-2009 tel
 >[log in to unmask]  email
 >(916) 319-2109 fax
 >
 >Judy Chu (D)
 >(916) 319-2049 tel
 >*doesn't use e-mail
 >(916) 319-2149 fax
 >
 >Rick Keene (R)
 >(916) 319-2003 tel
 >[log in to unmask] email
 >(916) 319-2103 fax
[Posted in FML issue 4554]