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.

1️⃣ ACR 86, the Pet Overpopulation Crisis Response Act, Needs Your Call No Later Than This Friday, 5PM!
2️⃣ BREAKING NEWS! Wag Hotels, a Popular Pet Boarding Chain, is Neglecting Dogs According to SFChronicle and Firsthand Account from SCIL Supporter!

A big thank you to Priscilla and her team for attending and allowing us to honor her for a lifetime of animal advocacy. Priscilla was ever so gracious with all of our guests. We are truly grateful for her support and unwavering love for animals.

If you haven’t yet purchased your ticket for this Saturday’s Animal Rights Event of the Year with Priscilla Presley, please don’t wait another day. Come spend the evening in a gorgeous setting with amazing animal lovers, delicious vegan food, and a silent auction you won’t want to miss – including a surprise item from the private collection of The King himself, personalized by Priscilla.

Want to support SCIL? Right now, the best way to support our groundbreaking work is to attend our July 15th event, and bring your animal-loving friends. Please buy your ticket today to the Animal Rights Event of the Year with Priscilla Presley!

Today, ACR 86, the Pet Crisis Response Act, authored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra and coauthored by a bipartisan group of twelve legislators, passed the Assembly Floor with a vote of 66-0. The resolution details the underlying issues that have contributed to too many dogs, cats, rabbits and other species being born in or brought into California without enough Californians willing to give them forever homes and urges action on the pet overpopulation crisis in California.