spcaLA: Friends for Life

Message from Madeline

» February 9, 2012

Just a few months ago, I asked you to appeal to Governor Brown about the "Hayden Bill."  Your voices were heard - by the California State Legislature.  Because of the noise you made, the treatment of abandoned animals in our state stood in the legislative spotlight.   Both the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittees unanimously rejected the Governor's proposal to repeal the Hayden mandates.

Now, just ask Governor Brown to agree.

If you have not already done so, please contact Governor Jerry Brown.  Tell him you're sure he will turn California's economy around, and ask him politely not to repeal the Hayden Bill mandates.

Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 445-2841

Click here to email Governor Brown via his online form.

What is the Hayden Bill and what would a repeal mean?

In 1999, an animal shelter mandate known as the Hayden Bill was enacted to, among other things:

• increase holding periods for stray cats and dogs in shelters,
• create behavior assessments for cats appearing to be feral,
• and extend these holding periods to pocket pets as well.

In exchange for performing these additional “mandates”, the state was required to reimburse cities and counties for these extra costs.

Against the landscape of a poor economy, these “mandates” have been suspended as a cost savings measure since 2009.  Now, in his fiscal year 2012-13 state Budget, Governor Jerry Brown has proposed to permanently repeal them.

Many of you have been subjected to hysterical calls for action and misinformed assertions that animals will be euthanized en masse upon repeal of these sections of the law. I am sure most of you didn’t know that California shelters have been struggling to operate without being reimbursed for the past few years.

That said, I strongly urge that the governor maintain the status quo and not permanently repeal these mandates.

I remain confident that our economy will improve and enable these protections for our pets to revive as well. The protection of our stray, abused and unwanted pets should be a priority in this state – the first to fund and the last to cut. Sadly that is not the case.

Thank you,

Madeline Bernstein
spcaLA President

Sincerely,

Madeline Bernstein
President, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles