I am excited to announce that I am running for Laguna Beach City Council. I’ll still be here at SCIL, working day and night to build the broadest possible coalitions to pass laws that protect the planet and all the creatures we share it with.

AB 1983, Preventing Euthanasia to Save (P.E.T.S.) Act reinstates the tax check-off program to fund spaying and neutering. It was just assigned its first committee hearing for March 4th and needs your letters of support ASAP by 3PM Monday, February 26th!

by: Will Conybeare | California State Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-38) has introduced AB 3162 – known as the California Oppose Cruelty to Octopuses (OCTO) Act – to prohibit octopus farming on land and water as well as ban the import of farmed octopus to California.

Bill will ensure that octopus farms, and the risks inherent to them, are not allowed in California.

AB 3053 INTRODUCED! New legislation will ensure uniform rules to allow families participating in junior agricultural programs to opt out of slaughter-only auctions.

Below is a letter that ran recently in local papers about a harmful “Utility Tax” that snuck through the legislature last year and that a group of lawmakers is now working to repeal. It’s something we should all care about, as climate-conscious individuals, and as utility ratepayers.

Assemblymember Ash Kalra and Social Compassion in Legislation introduce AB 2133. New legislation will help address pet overpopulation by expanding access to cat neuter services.

Hi Judie, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?

A previous version of this bill was introduced in 2023 but was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee. It is being reintroduced with amendments that address the concerns expressed by the legislature. The goal is to optimize resource allocation and reduce pet overpopulation.

The bill will reinstate a voluntary tax check-off program that ran successfully for eight years and expired at the end of 2023. The program allows Californians to direct a portion of their state tax refund to a program that offers grants for low- and no-cost spay and neuter services.

Our Last Update for 2023! As we close out 2023 and look ahead to 2024, we want to thank all of you for your support and political engagement. We could not do what we do without you!

OPINION: Judie Mancuso: California must stop the pet animal overpopulation crisis

VICTORY! The California Fish & Game Commission Unanimously Votes to Approve Implementmentation of Strategies to Address Bullfrog and Non-native Turtles Issues, Including Ban on Imports and Sales!

🐕 Overcrowding at Palmdale & Lancaster Animal Shelters: A Welcome Step That Fails to Address Underlying Issues
🐂 Los Angeles City Council Approves Drafting of Rodeo Ordinance
🛢️ Investigation Details of Orange County Oil Spill Show Amplify Negligence Made Crisis Worse

TWO CALLS TO ACTION!
1️⃣ Support Los Angeles Ordinance to Ban Rodeos
2️⃣ Support CDFW’s Proposed Prohibition on Import Permits of Invasive Species!

Wondering where to direct your end-of-year donations? Please consider giving to our 501(c)(4), Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL), to support our political advocacy work, and/or making a tax-deductible donation to our 501(c)(3), Social Compassion, to help us continue our animal rescue work, humane education and much more.

The Laguna Beach Animal Shelter will be waiving all adoption fees for any active duty, honorably discharged or retired military veterans in Orange County who apply and qualify to adopt a pet. This will be a permanent program so fee-free adoptions will continue beyond Veterans Day, but every day is a great day to adopt a pet! Please help us spread the word.

We are thrilled to announce that the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will be granting out up to $350,000 in funding for the 2024 Pet Lover’s License Plate Grant Program (Pet Lover’s), which will mean after this round over $1.85M dollars will have been granted out for spay and neuter surgeries! JOIN US FOR THE WEBINAR TO DISCUSS: “Backyard Breeding, Animal Overpopulation, and Policies & Actions That Can Make A Difference!” on November 8th!

Over the last few years, SCIL has received complaints from concerned supporters about the business practices of The Wagmor, a for-profit entity, and Wagmor Pets, a nonprofit entity. Concerns raised to us have centered on suspicions that the Wagmor has been flouting California law, AB 485, which SCIL sponsored in 2017, which bans the sale of dogs, cats, or rabbits from pet stores.

SCIL is excited to support the effort led by the New South Wales (NSW) Member of Parliament, Emma Hurst, to save Australian kangaroos. We met with the Honorable Emma Hurst and her team on their recent visit to the United States to advocate for US support in shutting down its market for kangaroo products.