PetPAC Announces ''The Pet Extinction Act,'' an Unfunded State Mandate, Will Cost Cities and Counties over $1 Billion Annually

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--“AB 1634 is another unfunded state mandate which will cost cities and counties over $1 billion annually and impact the budgets, resources, and working K9s of law enforcement agencies across California,” said Bill Hemby, Chairman of PetPAC, which represents groups opposing the measure.

“The availability of police dogs available for crime prevention, criminal apprehension, bomb and drug detection, and search and rescue operations will drop dramatically”

Assembly Bill 1634, a measure by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) will require the forced sterilization of nearly all dogs and cats in California. Pet owners who don’t comply will be fined $500 and face possible criminal penalties.

Experience has shown that local jurisdictions cannot recoup the costs to administer and enforce mandated pet sterilization laws from penalties and fees alone. To pay for the new bureaucracy, funds are taken from other city and county services, including law enforcement and public safety.

The Legislative analysis of AB 1634 states that animal control costs are likely to immediately increase as more pets are surrendered to shelters, euthanasia rates rise, and licensing drops off. In Los Angeles, shelter costs rose by 269% following enactment of a similar measure.

In addition, the bill’s requirements to receive a government-issued exemption permit for police dogs are arbitrary and restrictive. As a result, “The availability of police dogs available for crime prevention, criminal apprehension, bomb and drug detection, and search and rescue operations will drop dramatically,” said Hemby.

The 25,000-member National Coalition of Public Safety Officers (NCPSO) today joined other law enforcement groups in opposing AB 1634. Law enforcement opposition also includes the California Organization of Police and Sheriffs, California Rescue Dog Association (the largest of the K9 search-and-rescue organizations), the United States Police Canine Association, Western States Police Canine Association, Manteca Police Officers Association, Manteca Police Employees Association, Canine Specialized Search Team, and John Riboni, Director of K9 Training for Placer County Sheriffs Department, Roseville Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, and Rocklin Police Department.

For more information on No on AB 1634 go to www.petPAC.net