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.

The Laguna Beach Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC) hearing held on September 18th heard a proposal for five actions, copied below. The proposal was submitted for a vote by the Wildlife Subcommittee, which is led by our founder and president, Judie Mancuso. We are happy to report that the ESC voted unanimously to move these recommendations to the full City Council for consideration.

Celebrating Ten Years of the Pet Lover’s License Plate! We Need Creative Marketing Ideas to Sell Many More Plates!

Assembly Bill 829, the Animal Cruelty & Violence Intervention Act will expand currently required counseling for violations of Penal Code 597 to additional sections pertaining to animal abuse, such as those involving malicious violence, willful poisoning, or bestiality.

AB 829 is officially on the Governor’s desk! Governor Newsom has until October 14th to sign AB 829 into law or veto. We are hopeful Governor Newsom will sign the bill into law since this policy will save animals from horrific abuse and prevent future violence against humans. But the Governor MUST hear from all of us. He needs to know there is support for this legislation. He needs to hear from you!

ACR 86 calls for the State to immediately fund spay and neuter and other medical services along with a public relations campaign urging Californians to adopt shelter animals, to stop unwanted litters, and for out-of-state veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians to apply for California licensure.

This evening, Assembly Bill 829, the Animal Cruelty & Violence Intervention Act, authored by Assemblywoman Marie Waldron (R-Valley Center) and sponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation, passed the full Senate with a vote of 40-0. The bill also passed a procedural concurrence vote in the Assembly. The bill will be sent to the Governor, where he will have 30 days to sign the bill into law or veto it.

Our bills are at the final stage of the legislative process and need your help immediately!
Both AB 829 (Waldron), the Animal Cruelty & Violence Intervention Act, and ACR 86 (Kalra), the Pet Crisis Response Act, are eligible for a Senate vote. The end of the session is tomorrow. If they are not voted on by the end of session, then they are dead.
📞 Please call the two Senators listed ASAP!

Both AB 829 (Waldron), the Animal Cruelty & Violence Intervention Act, and ACR 86 (Kalra), the Pet Crisis Response Act, will be voted on by the full Senate next week!
📞 Please Call YOUR Senator ASAP and Ask Them To “Vote YES on AB 829 and ACR 86!”

✅ AB 829 & ACR 86 Both Successfully Pass Senate Appropriations Committee and Now Need Your Help!
❌ AB 332 Killed by Department of Public Health!

Monday, August 28, 2023 at 10:00 AM | Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) will hold a press conference with American icon Priscilla Presley, Social Compassion in Legislation’s Founder and President, Judie Mancuso, and Sacramento SPCA CEO, Kenn Altine, and co-authors to advocate for ACR 86, the Pet Overpopulation Crisis Response Act, prior to the bill’s hearing at noon.