Legislature unanimously passes ACR 153, re-commits to saving all healthy and treatable dogs and cats
The most trendsetting state in the country has re-committed to its life-saving policies with the passage of ACR 153 on May 21. The legislation was inspired by Best Friends Animal Society’s goal to make America a no-kill nation by 2025 and success in increasing the City of Los Angeles save rate from 57 to 87 percent in just six years with its No Kill Los Angeles initiative.
“There’s a saying that ‘As California goes, so goes the rest of the nation,’ so we’re excited to see this state re-commit itself to achieving its long-time goal to save all healthy and treatable dogs and cats,” said Jose Ocano, Pacific Region Director for Best Friends Animal Society. “ACR 153 will not only motivate this state to save every adoptable dog and cat that comes into our care, it will serve as inspiration to the rest of the country that the time to start saving lives is now.”
Championed by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D—Los Angeles), ACR 153 pledges to find positive outcomes for the hundreds of thousands of cats and dogs that flood into California’s municipal and private animal shelters every year.
“As Californians we can work together to ensure no dog, puppy, cat or kitten suffers unnecessarily and that all healthy and adoptable pets find their forever home,” said Santiago.
Best Friends will host its annual national conference in downtown Los Angeles July 19 to 21, and attendees will be welcomed by Assemblymember Santiago to his district.
In 1998, California enacted a sweeping set of laws often referred to as “the Hayden Law,” named after its champion, legendary legislator Sen. Tom Hayden. One important element of the Hayden Law was a state policy commitment that no healthy or treatable dog or cat would be euthanized.
ACT 153 builds on the Hayden Law to increase saving the lives of dogs and cats with the creation, maintenance or expansion of volunteer foster care networks; comprehensive adoption programs; medical and behavioral programs; public education and awareness programs; trap, neuter, vaccinate and return or release programs; animal socialization programs; and many others.
Senator Josh Newman (D—Fullerton) rallied unanimous support for ACR 153 on the Senate floor.
“Tens of thousands of animals die in shelters around the state each year,” said Newman. “And many of those are healthy or treatable dogs and cats. ACR 153 renews California’s commitment that no adoptable or treatable animal should be euthanized.”
