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More on the CVMA pullback from AB1634
By Christie Keith
July 6, 2007
[Updated with the CVMA's own statement here.]
From today’s San Diego Union-Tribune:
The state’s biggest veterinary group withdrew its endorsement this week of legislation that would require most owners to spay or neuter their dogs and cats, dealing the bill a serious blow.
The measure has triggered passionate debate across California but still enjoys strong support from many animal rights groups, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals workers, local government officials and celebrities such as Bob Barker, the just-retired star of “The Price Is Right” game show.
Barker is scheduled to be in Sacramento on Monday to help drum up enough support to persuade a wary Senate Local Government Committee to keep the bill alive when it is taken up on Wednesday.
The five-member panel is made up of three Democrats, including Sen. Christine Kehoe of San Diego, and two Republicans. Kehoe carried successful legislation last year aimed at cracking down on puppy mills. However, she has not taken a position on the sterilization measure, AB 1634.
Supporters were uncertain which way the committee members would go, even before the California Veterinary Medical Association changed its position.
“We’re not giving up on them,” said Laguna Beach activist Judie Mancuso, who has spearheaded the campaign.
The legislation cleared the Assembly last month without a vote to spare – and only after last-minute lobbying by Barker.
The highly regarded veterinary association’s move to a neutral corner reflects the group’s deep divisions over the bill.
“There are several issues that remain unresolved and we continue to hear from our member veterinarians that these components, dealing largely with breeding restrictions, continue to be a problem,” the association wrote this week in a letter to Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Sherman Oaks, who is carrying the bill. Levine couldn’t be reached for comment yesterday.
Jean Spengel, who owns a clinic in La Jolla, is one of those veterinarians.
“While at first glance this bill may seem like a great idea, its reality is different,” Spengel and several others said in an earlier joint missive aimed at rallying opposition.
“It does not address the true sources of pet overpopulation, violates the rights of responsible pet owners … and is unenforceable,” said the group, which is not actively opposing the bill.
Full article here.
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This should be for people that don’t care to have their pets fixed. I hope it does not pass. Because if you think about it the only cats and dogs would be pure breed which people would not want to get. I would want a cat that is mixed breed. It would cut back really bad on cats and dogs and what kind people would want to get.
Comment by jill — July 6, 2007 @ 1:43 pm