Dear,

As a concerned California constituent, taxpayer and advocate for animal welfare, I am deeply concerned about the pet overpopulation crisis in our state. Californian shelters and rescue groups operate in Crisis mode.

California’s state-run animal shelters face a dire situation. Since 2021, shelter intakes have soared, with approximately 450,000 animals entering the system in 2023 alone. Pet euthanasia rates have hit a three-year high,  reaching alarming levels of 57 % non-live outcomes in areas. California leads the nation in homeless animal intakes and euthanasia levels. 

Alarmingly, only a fraction of California government run shelters, about 38.5%, submitted any statistics to the National Shelters Animal Count database. Even fewer, just 25.2%, reported data for the entire year. This incomplete reporting means that a significant 70-75% of California’s animal intake and outcome data remains unaccounted for.  

Some examples for 2023: 

Town of Apple Valley Animal Services – 55.84 %

Los Banos, Animal Services -30.72 %

LA County Animal Care Services – 31.28 %

Fresno Humane Animal Services – 32.23 %

Kern County Animal Services– 24.44 %

Contra Costa Animal Services – 17.30 %

San Jose Animal Care Services – 16.57 %

The lack of regulation against backyard breeding is a direct correlation to the overcrowding. Bills Proposing such regulations repeatedly Die in CA Congress due to lobbyists’ pressure. AB702  failed in 2021. This bill was crucial to support animal welfare and regulate/enforce backyard breeding which is one of the major contributors to the overpopulation and mass euthanasia crisis in our state. 

Currently there is an important proposed legislation piece that I ask you to support: AB 2425 Animals: adoption, shelter overcrowding, and breeding Introduced by Assembly Member Essayli

As your elector, I urge you to Please Support Assembly Member Essayli and please vote “Yes’ on this important Bill!

I also urge you to introduce more Bills, to systematically address the animal overpopulation crisis in Our State. It’s crucial that our state leadership vote in support of these vital laws for our communities. 

Additionally, please help with sufficient funding, which comes from taxpayers’ money, be allocated for enforcement and compliance as a high priority in 2024.  This is a crucial time and animals and communities need your support. 

California needs an approach that is centered on both animals and communities, rather than catering solely to big-money interests and powerful lobbies. Key components for humane animal population management:

State Funded Spay -neuter availability and affordability throughout the communities is crucial at curbing overpopulation at its root. Increased funding for spay-neuter programs and ensuring access to affordable veterinary services throughout communities.  

Laws and regulations around breeding and selling of animals including online animal sales  to keep animals safe and from being overbred, and prevent breeders and sellers from conducting business in illegal ways.

Mandatory identification and registration of animals are essential when it comes to traceability, responsible ownership, breeding/selling of animals, including online sales, combating illegal or criminal activities, managing stray animal populations, preventing public health risks, and handling zoonotic disease outbreaks. 

I am grateful for your attention to this matter and am hopeful that we can work together to enact meaningful change

Thank you for your dedication to our community and its four-legged residents.