California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 150

Introduced by Assembly Member Atkins

(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Maienschein)

March 7, 2016

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 150—Relative to prevention of cruelty to animals.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 150, as introduced, Atkins. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

This measure would commend the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on the celebration of its 150th anniversary and for the myriad contributions it has made to the health and well-being of animals nationwide and would extend best wishes for continued success in the future.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals (ASPCA) is celebrating its 150th anniversary on April
10, 2016, and it is appropriate at this time to highlight its many
achievements as North America’s first humane society and
underscore the positive impact it has made throughout the State
of California and across the nation; and

WHEREAS, The ASPCA was founded by Henry Bergh in 1866
on the belief that protecting animals was an issue that crossed party
lines and class boundaries; and

WHEREAS, Motivated to act after witnessing the regular
beating, abuse, and overworking of cart horses, Henry Bergh made
a commanding moral and legal case to protect animals, and in so
doing, persuaded prominent leaders of the time, including members
of the Rockefeller family, to support him in enacting the first
anti-cruelty law in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Henry Bergh personally fought for animal welfare
on New York City streets, as well as in the courtroom, regularly
inspecting slaughter houses, working with police to close down
dog fighting pits, lecturing at schools, and operating the nation’s
first ambulance for overworked horses that frequently collapsed
from dehydration and exhaustion; and

WHEREAS, Henry Bergh’s outspoken crusade on behalf of
animals inspired those activists seeking to protect abused children
to establish the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Children, the first child protective agency in the world, for which
he served as a founding vice president; and

WHEREAS, By 1888, the year Henry Bergh died, 37 of the
country’s then 38 states had passed animal anti-cruelty laws, and
the ASPCA today continues his legacy by working to enhance
laws to protect animals by advocating nationally for the strongest
possible protections for animals; helping animals in crisis by
responding to requests for assistance by law enforcement and
emergency response agencies around the country; and, since 2008,
providing $93 million in grants to various partners nationwide,
including over $12.3 million to organizations throughout California
in support of programs in line with its mission; and

WHEREAS, Since its founding, the American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has evolved into a dynamic voice
for improving the quality of life for animals throughout the United
States; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the American Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals be commended on celebrating its 150th
anniversary and for the myriad contributions it has made to the
health and well-being of animals nationwide and wished the best
for continued success in the future.