Breaking News!

AB 332, The Animal Shelter Data Collection Act

Introduced by Assemblymember Alex Lee and Sponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation

January 30, 2023, Sacramento, CA –  Today, Assembly Bill 332, the Animal Shelter Data Collection Act was introduced by Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San José), and coauthored by Assemblywoman Marie Waldron (R-Valley Center), and sponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation. The bill requires that the Department of Public Health (CDPH) collect and publish animal shelter in-take and outcome data, including adoption, redemption, euthanasia, and other categories as a part of the Department’s rabies control program.

“Our bill will help provide important data about shelter animals so that resources are better optimized to find more pets their forever homes,” said Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San José).

The categories of data required to be reported under the bill were previously collected and published by CDPH from 1995-2016. That data detailed how many dogs and cats were coming into shelters and what their outcome were, along with other rabies control data. The data helped state and local governments, the animal shelter and rescue community, and philanthropic organizations understand the scope of the pet overpopulation issue in the state and how to direct resources to help communities in the most need.

“Surprisingly, beginning in 2017, CDPH took it among themselves to stop publishing the data, and even took down the historical reports, leaving everyone in the dark about the number of animals making their way through our state’s shelter system,” said Judie Mancuso, Founder and President of Social Compassion in Legislation. “We will never find a solution to the problem while being blindfolded.”

“AB 332 will enable the state and other entities to have the visibility they need to ensure funds are targeted most effectively, while giving lawmakers and the public a more complete picture of the pet overpopulation problem in order to make informed policy and program decisions.”

Cities and counties spend approximately $408 million annually to operate our state’s animal shelters, with much of these dollars coming from the state’s general fund.

The state also allocated an extra $50 million dollars combined in 2021 and 2022 to be distributed by UC Davis to support our state’s animal shelters efforts to reduce euthanasia rates, in addition to the approximately $488,000 granted out annually through the Pet Lover’s License Plate Fund for spay and neuter, and another $184,000 from the Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund also for spay and neuter.

In closing, AB 332 is requiring that the department continue to do what they were already doing for over twenty years.

AB 332 will be referred to a committee in the next few weeks. We will send another email asking for your support once the bill has been officially assigned.

We are off and running to save animals in 2023. We cannot thank you all enough for your support! If you have already made a donation…thank you so much! If you have not, please consider making one today.

Thank you so much,

Judie Mancuso, founder/CEO/president
Social Compassion in Legislation