California Dog Owners

Levine Can’t Get Enough Votes In Senate

By JOHN YATES

American Sporting Dog Alliance

http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org

asda@csonline.net

SACRAMENTO, CA – Animal rights activists failed to get enough votes in the Senate to pass AB 1634 on Friday, thus probably ending a two-year-long battle by dog owners against legislation that would result in widespread forced pet sterilization.

AB 1634 was called for a vote Friday, and the results were 27-5 in opposition. However, many Democrats abstained, and the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Lloyd Levine and Sen. Alex Padilla, were accorded the courtesy of bringing up the legislation again next week if they think they can muster enough support to pass it.

The Senate adjourned following the vote, so that the Democrats can go to their party’s presidential nominating convention. The Senate will reconvene August 28, and must conclude business by midnight August 31, when the legislative session expires.

Dog owners cannot declare victory until after the session expires, but Senate observers now believe that it is virtually impossible for Levine and Padilla to get enough votes to pass AB 1634.

It would take 21 votes to pass it, and 27 senators voted against it on Friday. There are 41 members of the Senate, and that means nine members abstained or were absent. Those nine members would not be enough to pass the legislation, even if they all voted for it. Moreover, the Senate would have to pass the measure quickly, as the entire assembly would have to vote to concur with several amendments before the August 31 deadline.

For dog owners, it looks very good.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance has staunchly opposed AB 1634 in all of its amended forms. We also have supported several great California organizations that worked very hard to defeat this legislation. This apparent victory shows what can happen when dog owners unite, stand up and be counted.

Winning this battle wasn’t easy, as we were up against every large statewide and national animal rights group. These powerful groups threw many millions of dollars into their effort to force the sterilization of all dogs and cats in California. AB 1634 was the number one priority for animal rights groups, but their money and power weren’t enough to defeat dog owners when we stood our ground and fought back.

The days leading up to Friday’s vote were hectic and confused, with Levine gutting the bill early this week and gaining a pact of non-opposition from the American Kennel Club. AKC’s agreement with Levine drew heavy fire from many other dog owners’ organizations.

Then, late yesterday, Levine reneged on his deal with the AKC and announced plans to change the legislation yet again, in a desperate effort to gain more votes. This violation of trust caused AKC to once again announce its vigorous opposition to the bill. In turn, Levine backed off making any changes today, so that he once again could claim non-opposition from AKC. The version that was voted on in the Senate today was the version that the AKC Board voted not to oppose.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance and most California groups have been unwavering in our opposition to AB 1634.

While this fight has been exhausting, we are asking California dog owners to do one more thing. Please write to as many California state senators as you can and thank them for voting down the legislation today. Also, please ask them to continue to oppose it if Levine attempts to bring it up again in the closing days of the session.

Thank these Senators for Voting NO on AB1634 and please consider voting for them in November:

Thank these Senators for Not Supporting AB1634:

Try to change the minds of these senators who voted for the bill, and PLEASE don’t vote for them in the fall election unless they do change their minds:

Elaine Alquist (Dem)
Mike Machado (Dem)
Gloria Negrete McLeod (Dem)
Alex Padilla (Dem)
Tom Torlakson (Dem)

The American Sporting Dog Alliance represents owners, hobby breeders and professionals who work with all breeds of dogs, and especially with a focus on the breeds that are used for hunting. We are a grassroots movement working to protect the rights of dog owners, and to assure that the traditional relationships between dogs and humans maintains its rightful place in American society and life. Please visit us on the web at http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org. Our email is ASDA@csonline.net. Complete directions to join by mail or online are found at the bottom left of each page.