[Mardelin]

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program--saving an estimated $2.2 million statewide. Over this
time period, that state's euthanasia rate dropped 75%. New
Hampshire's program targets cats and dogs living in low-income
households. Almost all funding for the program comes from a
small surcharge on dog licenses issued throughout the state
and revenue from a specialty license plate.

3)Arguments in Support . The City of Santa Rosa writes in
support, "One of the biggest issues that we face in animal
control in this county, as I am sure in others, is the number
of animals that we need to euthanize, particularly cats. We
have tried a number of voluntary programs and educational
programs to encourage spay/neuter. This bill would provide
the City's animal control contractor, the County of Sonoma,
with additional tools to address this issue."

4)Arguments in Opposition . In opposition to the bill, the
California Farm Bureau Federation writes, "The specific
challenges created by SB 250 relate to the provision that
allows intact licenses to be denied for owners who have
'violated a state law, or a city, county, or other local
governmental provisions relating to the care and control of
animals.' For example, a dog guarding livestock that chases
away a predator from the flock may leave the property in that
chase and could be found to be running at large. One
violation would be grounds to deny the dog owner from ever
owning dogs for breeding and would force the sterilization of
dogs that may possess valuable working traits. Farm Bureau is
also concerned about the potential for overzealous enforcement
actions taken against our members who may leave their dogs in
the back of a pickup while running errands."

5)Related Legislation . AB 241 (Nava) of 2009 makes it a
misdemeanor for an individual or business that buys or sells
dogs or cats to have more than a combined total of 50
unsterilized dogs and cats, as specified. This bill is
pending in the Senate Public Safety Committee.

AB 1634 (Levine) of 2008 would have enacted the California
Responsible Pet Ownership Act which specifies that a person
who owns a dog or cat that is not licensed (or is improperly
licensed) and that has not been spayed or neutered may be
cited and, if cited, must pay civil penalties. That bill
failed passage on the Senate Floor.



SB 250
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SB 861 (Speier; Chapter 668, Statutes of 2005) allows cities
and counties to enact breed-specific ordinances for mandatory
spaying and neutering and breeding restrictions.
Additionally, this bill provides for increased reporting to
the State Public Health Veterinarian of dog bite data and
other information by local jurisdictions that make use of the
authorization provided by the bill.