AB 1634 (Levine), which would have required the spaying or neutering of privately owned dogs or cats, was withdrawn by its author at the Senate Local Government Committee hearing on July 11th. It cannot be considered again until January of 2008.
If a vote had been taken at that hearing, I would have voted against this bill. As a proud pet owner myself, I do not feel that it is the business of the State of California to tell individuals how to take care of their personal pets. In addition, the mandate on cities and counties to provide spaying and neutering services was required without state funds to perform such services. A one-size-fits-all type of solution to the pet overpopulation problem does not work well in rural areas where dogs are raised for work in farming and ranching operations.
AB 1634 generated an immense amount of interest on both sides from the people of California and the people of the First Senate District.
