Californians:
The following articles in today's Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle, on a bill that makes it a crime to endanger a dog in a hot car, invite supportive letters to the editor. Your letters might deal with any aspect of animal cruelty. The Los Angeles Times takes letters at letters@latimes.com . The San Francisco Chronicle takes letters at letters@sfchronicle.com and advises, "Due to space considerations, only letters of less than 250 words will be considered for publication. Please provide your name and telephone number along with your letter. You will be called if your letter is being considered for publication."
I send thanks to activist Judie Mancuso who has worked hard on this bill and let us know about these articles.
Los Angeles Times
August 15, 2006 Tuesday
CALIFORNIA; Metro; Metro Desk; Part B; Pg. 7
Assembly OKs Bill Aimed at Saving Pets
Jordan Rau, Times Staff Writer
People who endanger their pets by leaving them in cars could face up to six months in jail under legislation approved Monday by the state Assembly.
The measure would bar people from leaving or confining an animal in an unattended motor vehicle with conditions that could lead to suffering, injury or death. Those conditions could include lack of ventilation, extreme hot or cold weather or an absence of food or water.
First offenders could be fined up to $100 if the animal is unharmed, and as much as $500 and half a year in county jail if the pet incurs "great bodily injury." Repeat violators would face the more stringent punishment regardless of whether an animal was hurt.
The legislation notes that even when vehicle windows are left slightly open, a car's interior can heat to as much as 102 degrees within 10 minutes on an 85-degree day. Even a dog in good health can only withstand a body temperature of 107 or 108 degrees for a brief period before suffering brain damage or death, the legislation states.
The bill would allow a police officer, humane officer or animal control officer to remove an animal from a vehicle if they believe it is at risk. It would then be taken to a shelter or veterinary hospital, and the owner could not reclaim it until after paying all costs associated with its care.
The measure, SB 1806, sponsored by state Sen. Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont), passed the Assembly, 58 to 5. It previously was approved by the Senate, 31 to 3. Before being sent to the governor, the measure will return to the Senate for final approval of amendments added by the Assembly.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on the bill.
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THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE (California)
August 15, 2006 Tuesday
BAY AREA; Pg. B3
Bill on leaving pets in cars goes to governor;
Measure makes it a crime to subject animals to the heat
Matthew Yi, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau
Sacramento
Attention pet owners. You might want to think twice before you leave your pooch in the car on a warm day while you run into the store for a few minutes.
If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs a state Senate bill headed for his desk, it will be a crime to leave pets in unattended cars under conditions that pose a danger to the animals.
The Assembly on Monday gave a 55-5 thumbs up to pass SB1806 written by State Sen. Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont, that also seeks to impose a fine of up to $500 and as much as six months in jail.
But perhaps more importantly, the legislation would empower animal control officers to remove pets in distress even if it means breaking the window of a car to gain access.
"We hear incidents (about pets dying in locked cars) just about every summer, and you've all seen dogs left thoughtlessly in the car. This is not to just punish those who are offending, but to save the animals," said Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-San Fernando Valley, who presented the bill Monday.
However, actually breaking into a car to save an animal will be the last resort, said Ed Boks, general manager of Los Angeles Animal Services, the bill's chief supporter. Animal control officers will first try to locate the owner and then try picking the lock to open the car door, he said.
Nevertheless, under the existing law, forcibly gaining entry into a vehicle is illegal for animal control officers, so they must call police to do it, Boks said. In many cases, by the time police officers arrive, it's too late, he added.
There are no statewide statistics on how many pets die each summer, Boks said. However, animal-control agencies across the state get many calls every summer, especially when a heat wave sets in, he said.
But Assemblyman Ray Haynes, R-Riverside, argued that existing laws against cruelty to animals are sufficient.
"This is criminalizing negligent behavior," he said. "If you intentionally leave an animal in a locked car on a hot day to endanger it, then we already have cruelty to animals laws. But if we're just talking about leaving your dog in a car for a few minutes, that's just negligence."
But Boks said too often pet owners horribly underestimate the amount of time they think they'll spend running an errand while their animal is in the car.
"You go into the store thinking you're just going to buy a gallon of milk, but you run into your friend, have a chat, and it ends up being 15 to 20 minutes," he said.
Citing a study by an adjunct professor at San Francisco State University, supporters of the bill say on a day when the outside temperature is 86 degrees, it would take five minutes for the temperature inside a car parked in the sun to reach 132 degrees, even if the windows are left cracked open.
Boks said most healthy pets could withstand as much as about 107 degrees before suffering brain damage or death.
In other action in the Assembly, lawmakers on Monday passed a bill by Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter (Kern County), that supporters say will fix a glitch in the Gambling Control Act.
According to a report by the state attorney general's office, about 30 cardrooms around the state are not in compliance with the Gambling Control Act because while some cities and counties have set wagering limits, others have left that up to cardrooms, resulting in wide-ranging limits across the state.
The bill, which was originally prompted by disparate wagering limits at rival cardrooms in Colma and San Bruno, would create a level playing field by requiring cities and counties to set wagering limits in their jurisdictions, supporters say.
The Assembly passed the bill in a 46-9 vote and awaits the governor's approval.
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Date: Tue Aug 15 19:08:06 2006
