When Was the Last Time I Asked the Government to do Nothing?

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In 1999, an animal shelter mandate known as the “Hayden Bill” wasenacted, among other things, to increase holding periods for stray cats anddogs in shelters, create behavior assessments for cats appearing to be feral,and to extend these holding periods to pocket pets as well. In exchange forperforming these additional “mandates”, the state was required to reimbursecities and counties for these extra costs.
Against the landscape of a poor economy, these mandates have been suspended as a cost savingsmeasure since 2009. Now, inhis FY 2012-13 Budget, Governor Jerry Brown has proposed to permanently repealthem. Many of you have been subjected to hysterical calls for action andmisinformed assertions by the media and concerned citizens that animals will beeuthanized en masse upon repeal of these sections of the law. I am sure most ofyou didn’t know that California sheltershave been struggling to operate without being reimbursed for these suspended mandatesfor the past few years.
Your spcaLA, and its president, who also serves as the legislativechair of the State Humane Association of California (SHAC), have been workingclosely with Sacramento to protect the remaining language in the law and toensure that minimum holding periods be added back into the bill text.California Animal Directors Association (CACDA) has also been part of thesenegotiations. SHAC represents the collective voice of California’s humanesocieties and societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals (SPCAs), whileCACDA represents the municipal shelters in California. 
That said. I strongly urge that the governor maintain the statusquo and not permanently repeal these mandates. I remain confident that oureconomy will eventually improve and enable these protections for our pets torevive as well. 
The stewardship of our stray, abused and unwanted pets shouldbe a priority in this state – the first to be funded and the last to be cut.Sadly that is not the case.
Please call ((916) 445-2841) and/or email our governor and tell him thatwe are sure he will turn California’s economy around and to not repeal thesemandates.