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Governor Schwarzenegger has vetoed AB 241, AB 243, and AB 1122. All three bills could have criminalized the lawful activities of breeders and pet owners throughout California. Click here for the full story .
Support AB1122 Bill / End Roadside Sales of Animals
BWF is seeking help to generate support for AB1122 the bill that will ban the sale of animals on roadsides, parking lots, and carnivals. Here is a link to the language of the bill.
Below is a list of people that letters of support should be sent to and a sample letter. Activists should feel free to add in their own comments and personal experiences, but its perfectly o.k. just to copy and send the sample letter. We have included a sample letter that focuses on rabbits as well as sample letter that focuses on birds. Again activists are welcome to combine facts from both letters.
Senator Mark Leno (Chair)
Phone: (916) 651-4118
Fax: (916) 445-4688
click here to email
Senator John J. Benoit (Vice-Chair)
Phone: (916) 651-4037
Fax: (916) 327-2187
click here to email
Senator Gilbert Cedillo
Phone: (916) 651-4022
Fax: (916) 327-8817
click here to email
Senator Loni Hancock
Phone: (916) 651-4009
Fax: (916) 327-1997
click here to email
Senator Robert Huff
Phone: (916) 651-4029
Fax: (916) 324-0922
click here to email
Senator Darrell Steinberg
Phone: (916) 651-4006
Fax: (916) 323-2263
click here to email
Senator Roderick Wright
Phone: (916) 651-4025
Fax: (916) 445-3712
click here to email
Sample letter (with rabbit focus)
The Honorable [Senators Name]
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Senator [senator's last name]
I am writing in support of AB 1122, a bill that will address the sale of live animals on roadsides, street corners and in parking lots.
This problem is especially rampant in the Los Angeles fashion district where animals are sold on street corners in appalling conditions.
Rabbits are one of the most commonly sold animals. In addition to very significant animal welfare concerns associated with these unregulated and inherently stressful sale situations, these sales place a huge burden on shelters and rescues. Rabbits are the third most-frequently relinquished species at shelters across the country.
The rabbits sold at these venues are virtually always unspayed/unneutered, which means that not only will these animals contribute to an already disastrous overpopulation problem in California, but without surgical alteration, the rabbits will most likely have behavioral problems which the uninformed buyer will not know how to handle.
AB1122 will reduce the suffering of rabbits as well as puppies, birds and other animals sold on roadsides and in parking lots. It will also ease the burden on rescues and shelters that frequently incur the burden of caring for sick, injured, and unwanted animals sold at these venues.
Best regards,
Sample letter (bird focus)
The Honorable [Senators Name]
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Senator [\ last name]
I am writing in support of AB 1122, a bill that will address the sale of live animals on roadsides, street corners and in parking lots.
In addition to the very significant animal welfare concerns associated with these unregulated and inherently stressful sale situations, such venues also provide the perfect opportunity for the sale of illegally smuggled parrots, which is of great concern.
According to a 2008 report produced by the Congressional Research Service, “the illegal wildlife trade is among the most lucrative illicit economies in the world behind illegal drugs and possibly human trafficking and arms trafficking.”
Exotic birds are among the most lucrative animals in this trade. With almost a third of the world’s 330 parrot species threatened with extinction due to the combined pressures of habitat loss and collecting for the pet trade, the trade in wild birds remains a critical conservation issue. Recent estimates suggest that a range of 3,133 to 9,400 parrots are smuggled annually into the United States and the smuggling of some species appears to be on the rise.
It is believed that many smuggled parrots are sold on roadsides, parking lots and other temporary venues which provide a situation where the seller has no legal oversight and no consumer accountability for the sale of diseased, sick or injured animals.
AB1122 will reduce the suffering of birds as well as puppies, rabbits and other animals sold on roadsides and in parking lots. It also will aid in addressing the conservation issues associated with the illegal trade in wild parrots.
Best regards,
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Reader Comments (1)
Why won't Arnold pass the bills? Is he a hunter? Shame on him!