BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SCR 51|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SCR 51
Author: Lieu (D)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SUBJECT : Microchip Your Animal Day 2011
SOURCE : Social Compassion in Legislation
DIGEST : This resolution declares July 7, 2011, to be
Microchip Your Animal Day 2011 in California and 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.
ANALYSIS : This resolution makes the following
legislative findings:
1. In the State of California nearly one million dogs and
cats enter our municipal animal shelters every year,
costing taxpayers over $290 million annually, only 13
percent of these animals find their way home, and over
half are euthanized in the shelters.
2. Many of these unfortunate euthanized companion animals
may have had a loving family desperately searching for
them, but tragically, since the animal did not have
identification, the shelters were unable to reunite the
animals with their owners.
3. Many people consider their animals as a member of their
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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.
4.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.
5. Microchipping is a safe and effective way to get animals
back home and prevent them from entering the shelter
system.
6. Many lost pets are scanned at veterinarian offices or in
the field by animal control and returned to their owners
without ever being impounded.
7. Microchipping pets has also been shown to reduce
instances of animal cruelty and assist prosecutors in
identifying culprits of animal abuse in instances of
hoarding, dog fighting, theft, and unlawful breeding.
8. Californians can contribute to the effort by
microchipping their own companion animals and by
supporting programs in their communities that offer
accessible microchipping services.
9. 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".
This resolution declares 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. 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
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microchipping services.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 6/28/11)
Social Compassion in Legislation (source)
CTW:mw 6/28/11 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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