BILL NUMBER: SCR 51	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 25, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 22, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Lieu

                        JUNE 22, 2011

   Relative to Microchip Your Animal Day 2011.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 51, as amended, Lieu. Microchip Your Animal Day 2011.
   This measure would declare July 7, 2011, to be Microchip Your
Animal Day 2011 in California and would request that Californians
observe this day by having their dogs and cats microchipped and by
supporting organizations that provide no cost and affordable
microchipping services.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, In the State of California nearly one million dogs and
cats enter our municipal animal shelters every year, costing
taxpayers approximately $290 million annually, only 13 percent of
these animals find their way home, and over half are euthanized in
the shelters; and
   WHEREAS, Many of these unfortunate euthanized companion animals
may have had a loving family desperately searching for them, but
tragically, since the animals did not have identification, the
shelters were unable to reunite the animals with their owners; and
   WHEREAS, Many people consider their animals as a member of their
family and will expend any amount of money to help protect them;
however, despite best efforts, many dogs and cats slip out of an open
door and disappear and if the pet is wearing a collar and
identification tag, chances are much improved that the pet will make
it back home, but if the collar slips off, the pet may face
euthanasia within 72 hours of separation; and
   WHEREAS, A significant source of this problem is the lack of
identification which allows for the reunification of lost animals
with their owners; only 13 percent of lost animals are reunited with
their owners, while 74 percent of microchipped animals are returned
home; and
   WHEREAS, Microchipping is a safe and effective way to get animals
back home and prevent them from entering the shelter system; and
   WHEREAS, Many lost pets are scanned at veterinarian offices or in
the field by animal control and returned to their owners without ever
being impounded; and

   WHEREAS, Californians can contribute to the effort by
microchipping their own companion animals and by supporting programs
in their communities that offer accessible microchipping services;
and
   WHEREAS, Veterinarians, humane societies, animal control agencies,
and national and local animal welfare organizations will join
together and advocate the microchipping of dogs and cats on
"Microchip Your Animal Day 2011"; and
   WHEREAS, This measure would declare July 7, 2011, to be Microchip
Your Animal Day 2011 in  California. In honor of this day, a
free microchipping clinic will be available on the east steps of the
State Capitol from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.   California, 
and the Legislature requests that Californians observe this day by
having their dogs and cats microchipped and by supporting
organizations that provide no-cost and affordable microchipping
services; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
declares July 7, 2011, to be Microchip Your Animal Day 2011 in
California, and requests Californians to observe the day by having
their dogs and cats microchipped and by supporting charitable
organizations that provide microchipping services.