Hands off my pet … and my thermostat
By Gina Spadafori
January 12, 2008
Reading the newspapers at the corner diner this morning, I ran across this little gem:
“I don’t think the CEC (California Energy Commission) should be going into people’s homes to control their electricity,” said Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, who heads the Assembly committee on utilities and commerce. “The state should provide people with incentives and education to do this on their own.”
I snorted coffee out my nose.
Why?
Because California state Assemblyman Lloyd Levine is quite happy to have it required by law that you castrate your dog or spay your cat, which seems to me not only a medical decision that you should make after discussing it with, oh, I don’t know, a medical professional such a veterinarian, but also a tad more invasive than having your thermostat remotely controlled in a electrical grid emergency.
(Which incidentally, I’m not in favor of either. I’m happy to change it on my own, really. Voluntarily. And my own utility day job employer, after focus-grouping the entire community on a whole lot of energy-type issues, found out that I’m in the overwhelming majority on this. People are willing to sacrifice, but not willing to give up control. Duh, and maybe the California Energy Commission might want to borrow the focus-group findings. Just saying.)
I’m all for offering inducements to voluntarily spaying and neutering pets. (I’m starting to think I’m even more in favor of neutering when it comes to possibility of ill-informed dopes like Levine reproducing, which seems more likely now that he’s engaged to a TV newshead of questionable ethics). But the decision to surgically alter an animal is still a medical decision that is not without health ramifications. Medical decisions should be informed ones, and they should be decisions.
Assemblyman Levin, I do hope your newfound interest in my civil liberties doesn’t end at my thermostat. You can pull your misguided mandatory spay-neuter bill now, and thanks.
Instead, pal ‘o mine, how about warming up to community involved no-kill? Oh I know … we’d rather blame the pet-owners and put in a police state than actually ask shelters to shelter pets and work to place them instead of kill them.
Man, I’m cranky this morning. Maybe I oughtta turn up the heat.
Smile, hug a dog, drink more coffee ;-).
You’ve certainly changed my mind on spay/neuter. How about brainstorming some incentives that I could use here and also ones that could be applied state-wide to provide an alternative to the mandatory spay-neuter bill, It’s always better to have a positive alternative then just be seen as hopping up and down saying no. What’s happening in other states?
You should send Assemblyman Levine a vasectomy gift certificate for a wedding present. Or maybe a set of nuticles. lol
Comment by Susan Fox — January 12, 2008 @ 12:37 pm
Hah! As a matter of fact, I got an espresso maker for my 50th birthday. Think of all the money I’ll be saving … once I figure how to set it up. :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — January 12, 2008 @ 12:51 pm
Well, it can’t be worse than programming a VCR, right?
Any chance of getting you up here to Humboldt County for a booksigning sometime?
Comment by Susan Fox — January 12, 2008 @ 1:59 pm
And…After you sign books in Humboldt, you can mosey on up to Crescent City which would be a good central location to draw in the many Brookings-Gold Beach and Medford-Grants Pass pet people. My Library Director husband would be so delighted to host the event at the Del Norte County Library along with excellent PR for you. (Bring dogs.)
Comment by Nadine L. — January 12, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
I’m driving to Oregon in April … we should do it!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — January 12, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
Yesssssssss!
Comment by Nadine L. — January 12, 2008 @ 2:37 pm
All right!!!!!!! Let’s do it! I’ll be seeing Nadine on Monday and we can kick it around. I’m thinking Northtown Books in Arcata for my end.
Comment by Susan Fox — January 12, 2008 @ 2:42 pm
Gina, my contact info is on my website at http://www.foxstudio.biz. This is so exciting!
Comment by Susan Fox — January 12, 2008 @ 2:44 pm
Combined efforts will saturate the entire North Coast! Thrilling!
Comment by Nadine L. — January 12, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
We on the east coast feel oh so slighted.
Nancy
Comment by nancy freedman-smith — January 12, 2008 @ 5:52 pm