The Humane Society of the United States applauds California Gov. Jerry Brown for signing into law a bipartisan bill that will end the inhumane and unsporting practice of using dogs to chase down bears and bobcats for trophy hunting. He also signed five other important animal protection bills into law, reinforcing California’s standing as a national leader in animal protection.
Senate Bill 1221, authored by Sen. Ted W. Lieu, D-Torrance, makes California the 15th state to prohibit the “hounding” of bears.
“The curtain will soon come down on the bloodsport of ‘hounding.’ It is the right policy for California. Tens of thousands of citizens demanded this long overdue animal welfare reform, and today they won it,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States.
“On behalf of dogs and wildlife, all of us say thanks to Governor Brown and Senator Lieu and other lawmakers who stood up to confront cruelty and adopt this needed reform,” added Jennifer Fearing, HSUS’s California senior state director, who led the lobbying effort.
Other bills that Gov. Brown signed into law:
- Senate Bill 1229, authored by Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Santa Monica – This bill prohibits landlords from requiring renters to declaw their cats or devocalize their dogs as a condition of tenancy.
- Senate Bill 1500 improves the handling process for animals seized in cruelty and neglect cases – This bill by Sen. Lieu will reduce lengthy, costly and unnecessary sheltering of animals held as evidence in criminal cases, allowing the animals to be placed in new homes more quickly.
- Assembly Bill 1776 to name the endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle the official marine reptile of California – With this bill authored by Assemblymember Paul Fong, D-Cupertino, California joins the global effort to conserve this important species.
- Assembly Bill 2609 improves the transparency, accountability and quality of the Fish and Game Commission – Authored by Assemblymember Ben Hueso, D-San Diego, this bill sets new requirements, processes and ethical standards for the Commission and its appointed members.
- Assembly Bill 2402 and Senate Bill 1148 seeks to implement reforms that would improve the science, transparency, accountability and operations of California’s Department of Fish and Game, including swapping “Wildlife” for “Game” in the department’s name. Both bills embody recommendations from the California Fish and Wildlife Vision effort, a process that included The Humane Society of the United States as one of many stakeholders.
Unfortunately, Senate Bill 1480 to revise trapping laws to increase consumer and animal protections, was vetoed by Gov. Brown. This bill was authored by Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro and co-sponsored by Born Free USA and San Francisco Wildlife Center.
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