California's Animals Need Your Voice - Support Bowie's Law (AB 1482)!
Shelters across California are in crisis. They’re overcrowded, underfunded, and euthanizing healthy animals simply because there’s no space. Meanwhile, unregulated backyard breeding continues to flood our communities with more puppies, many of whom end up abandoned.
The lack of regulation against backyard breeding directly contributes to overcrowding in California. Despite repeated attempts to pass bills addressing this issue, such as AB702 in 2021-22, AB2425 in 2023-24 pressure from lobbyists has caused these efforts to fail.
AB 1482—Bowie’s Law Introduced by Assemblymember Bill Essayli, and carried by Assemblymember Leticia Castillo—offers real solutions.
This bill builds upon previous efforts by enhancing shelter transparency and strengthening breeder regulations. It requires shelters to list all adoptable animals online, mandates microchipping, vaccinations, and health checks for dogs before sale, and lowers the threshold for who qualifies as a breeder to 2 litters per year or 10 or more dogs.
Requires animal shelters to publicly list all adoptable and impounded animals online, so they’re not hidden from potential adopters.
Directs the state to study shelter overcrowding and explore a statewide animal adoption database.
This bill addresses root causes of overpopulation. Previous efforts like this have failed due to lack of public pressure—let’s change that. Backyard breeders must be regulated, and public shelter animals must have a fair chance at being seen and saved.
Take action now: Call, email, and write your legislators. Urge them to support AB 1482.
Together, we can shine a light on California’s animal welfare crisis and push for the change these animals deserve.
News on this topic:
An assemblyman from California has introduced a bill aimed at safeguarding animals from euthanasia, ensuring that every adoptable pet receives an opportunity to be rehomed…
The suspense file hearing in the California Legislature, happening twice a year, determines the fate of numerous bills without public debate, leaving many bill authors and interested parties frustrated…
During the holiday season, it’s tough for shelters. Adoptions drop, and places like the Bakersfield Animal Care Center and the county pound are feeling the strain…