BILL ANALYSIS Ó
ACR 56
Page 1
Date of Hearing: July 8, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Adam Gray, Chair
ACR 56
(Linder) - As Introduced April 20, 2015
SUBJECT: Official State Pet.
SUMMARY: This measure would declare a shelter pet as the
official State Pet.
EXISTING LAW: Currently, California has 36 official state
symbols, ranging from the State Flower (the Golden Poppy) to the
State Soil (The San Joaquin Soil).
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS:
Background : According to the State Humane Association of
California, over 800,000 animals each year are taken into
California's public and private shelters. These shelters work
across the State to rescue, rehabilitate, and find a home for
these animals. However, due to limited time and lack of
resources, roughly 40% of shelter animals in California are
euthanized.
ACR 56
Page 2
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals (ASPCA), approximately 7.6 million companion animals
enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, roughly
3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats. Each year,
approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized, while 2.7
million shelter animals are adopted.
Purpose of the Measure : According to the author, Each year, more
than 800,000 animals are taken in by California's public and
private shelters, with fewer than half adopted into new homes.
SPCA's, municipal animal shelters and humane societies often
nurse severely sick animals back to health and are able to match
them with permanent homes.
Across the nation an estimated 3-4 million dogs and cats are
euthanized each year. Although down from prior years, only
about 30% of pets in homes are from shelters, leaving millions
of shelter pets unadopted each year.
Far too often, shelter animals are forgotten or mistreated, and
the people who work to save these animals are going above and
beyond. By designating them the California State Pet, we bring
special awareness to the plight of these special animals.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
ACR 56
Page 3
Support
State Humane Association of California (sponsor)
Social Compassion in Legislation (co-sponsor)
Beagle Freedom Project
Opposition
None Received
Analysis Prepared by:Kenton Stanhope / G.O. / (916) 319-2531
ACR 56
Page 4