BILL NUMBER: ACR 2	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Smyth

                        JANUARY 4, 2011

   Relative to Spay Day USA 2011.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 2, as introduced, Smyth. Spay Day USA 2011.
   This measure would declare February 22, 2011, to be Spay Day USA
2011 in California, and would request that Californians observe that
day by having their dogs and cats spayed or neutered and by
contributing to organizations that provide spay and neuter services.

   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, More than 830,000 dogs and cats entered animal shelters
in California during 2009, the most recent year for which statewide
data is available; and
   WHEREAS, Approximately one-half of these animals were not
reclaimed by their owners or were not adopted by new owners, and thus
were euthanized; and
   WHEREAS, In most instances these dogs and cats are young, healthy,
and friendly animals that are euthanized simply because there are
not enough good homes for them; and
   WHEREAS, An additional unknown number of California animals die
each year due to abandonment, neglect, abuse, starvation, or cruelty;
and
   WHEREAS, The cost to California government and nonprofit agencies
of handling and euthanizing discarded animals is estimated to
approach one-quarter of one billion dollars per year; and
   WHEREAS, The spaying or neutering of dogs and cats helps solve
this tragic and costly problem by reducing the number of dogs and
cats that end up in shelters; and
   WHEREAS, It is the policy of the State of California that animal
shelters should aggressively promote spay and neuter programs to
reduce pet overpopulation; and
   WHEREAS, Californians can contribute to this effort by spaying or
neutering their own companion animals and by supporting programs in
their communities that offer accessible spay and neuter services; and

   WHEREAS, Veterinarians, humane societies, animal control agencies,
and national and local animal welfare organizations will join
together to advocate the spaying or neutering of dogs and cats on
"Spay Day USA 2011," an annual campaign of the Humane Society of the
United States; and
   WHEREAS, In particular, the Sacramento area has become a leader in
coordinating Spay Day USA events, spaying or neutering nearly 1,000
dogs and cats during each of the past 10 years, with nearly 1,000
dogs and cats scheduled for spaying or neutering for Spay Day USA
2011; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
declares February 22, 2011, to be Spay Day USA 2011 in California and
requests Californians to observe the day by having their dogs and
cats spayed or neutered and by contributing to charitable
organizations that provide spay and neuter services; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Legislature further requests that California
veterinarians work with animal shelters and rescue groups to provide
accessible spay and neuter services; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.