BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
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56 (Linder)
As Amended August 31, 2015
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |79-0 |(July 16, |SENATE: |40-0 |(September 2, |
| | |2015) | | |2015) |
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Original Committee Reference: G.O.
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. This bill is non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS:
Background: According to the State Humane Association of
California, over 800,000 animals each year are taken into
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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.
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.
The Senate amendments make technical and clarifying changes.
Analysis Prepared by:
Kenton Stanhope / G.O. / (916) 319-2531 FN:
0002048
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