Updates From The Animal Council

[Rene Allegrini]

August 7, 2006

(Appropriate forwarding encouraged)

IN THIS ISSUE:

* RIVERSIDE COUNTY CA – FORUMS CONTINUE ON MSN & MICROCHIP ORDINANCES
* SACRAMENTO COUNTY CA CONTINUES HI DIFFERENTIAL HEARING TO AUGUST 15
* STANISLAUS COUNTY CA SACKS LAY ANIMAL COURT JUDGE PANEL

BRIEFLY NOTED

CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE* reconvened today following summer
recess and faces nearly 1500 bills before adjournment on August 31.

ORTHOPEDIC FOUNDATION FOR ANIMALS, INC. (OFA) has published The Use
of Health Databases and Selective - A Guide For Dog And Cat Breeders,
5th edition, 2006. A key statement on page 11 is, "In summary,
achieving goals in breeding program depends upon the ability to
assess an animal's predictive breeding value. Important information
to assist breeders in achieving their goals is available on the OFA
website through the database search option (www.offa.org)." The
current promotion of legislative mandates for early altering of
purebred dogs and pedigreed cats long before that predictive value
can even start to be assessed except for individuals with clearly
undesirable traits apparent at an early age is counterproductive to
breeding quality animals. This publication can be accessed directly
at
http://www.offa.org/monograph2006web.pdf
*****

RIVERSIDE COUNTY* "Open Forums" presenting the proposed mandatory
spay/neuter and microchip ordinances began a week ago Murietta with
the next to be in Palm Desert on Saturday, August 12 at 10:00 a.m.
These events are simply presentations by Robert Miller, Director of
Animal Services, and Department veterinarian Allan Drusys, DVM,
MVPHMgmt where questions or comments from attendees are taken but not
answered.

SACRAMENTO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS* began the hearing on the $150
unaltered dog/cat license proposal set on Tuesday, August 1 (see our
July 25 publication or web site for details) with a presentation by
Pat Claerbout, Director of Animal Care and Regulation, followed by
urgings of support by the same lineup who regularly appear at state
legislative hearings to support activist bills. Veterinarians appear
to support the ordinance EXCEPT the requirement that they report
rabies vaccinations. Particularly ominous was an appearance by a
representative of Assembly Member Lloyd Devine (D-40) of Van Nuys
reporting that Levine supports the ordinance and hopes it will
influence state policy to eventually enact a bill similar to his AB
2513 would have mandated local government to require permits ($250 or
$1,000) t sell or acquire all unaltered dogs or cats and impose high
costs and other requirements on sellers. Levine had withdrawn AB 2513
on the Assembly Floor in May, 2004. Only 3 opponents were able to
testify before the allotted time ran out and the matter was continued
to Tuesday, August 15 at 3 p.m. when the Board will begin with those
waiting to testify on August 1. Archived video of the August 1
portion of the hearing is available on the BOS web site.

STANISLAUS COUNTY* Board of Supervisors on August 1, 2006 introduced
and approved 4-1, Mayfield voting no (first vote) ordinance
amendments recommended by new Director Michael McFarland (who
testified in support of the Sacramento ordinance that same day) to
eliminate the provision for a 3-citizen panel comprising as an
administrative forum to be replaced with a rotating panel of attorney
hearing officers and designate this as the administrative body to
hear potentially dangerous/dangerous dog petitions rather than the
judicial procedure provided by state law. News coverage at
Modbee.com | The Modesto Bee.
*****

*a service of THE ANIMAL COUNCIL
P.O. BOX 168, MILLBRAE CA 94030
Contact us at <TheAnimalCouncil@aol.com>
URL <http://www.theanimalcouncil.com>
Incorporated 1991, tax exempt under IRC Section 501(c)(4)
Online news updates published sporadically since 1997.
Legislative tracking subject to change. CA bill and law information
<http://www.leginfo.ca.gov>
Federal info at <THOMAS (Library of Congress)