Outrage Continues as Brown Tries to Repeal Hayden Law



California's "progressive" Governor, Jerry Brown, continues to spark widespread outrage by seeking to repeal all provisions of the Hayden Law that the Commission on Mandates ruled to be “reimbursable state mandates.” The provisions subject to repeal will be:  

1. Providing care and maintenance during the increased holding period for impounded dogs and cats that are ultimately euthanized. The increased holding period shall be measured by calculating the difference between three days from the day of capture and four business days from the day after impoundment, as specified below in 3 (a) and 3 (b), or six business days from the day after impoundment (Food & Agr. Code, §§ 31108, 31752); 
2. Providing care and maintenance for four business days from the day after impoundment, as specified below in 3 (a) and 3 (b), or six business days from the day after impoundment, for impounded rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, pot-bellied pigs, birds, lizards, snakes, turtles, or tortoises legally allowed as personal property that are ultimately euthanized (Food & Agr. Code, § 31753);
3. For dogs, cats, and other specified animals held for four business days after the day of impoundment, either: (a) Making the animal available for owner redemption on one weekday evening until at least 7:00 p.m., or one weekend day; or (b) For those local agencies with fewer than three full-time employees or that are not open during all regular weekday business hours, establishing a procedure to enable owners to reclaim their animals by appointment at a mutually agreeable time when the agency would otherwise be closed (Food & Agr., Code §§ 31108, 31752, and 31753);
4. Verifying whether a cat is feral or tame by using a standardized protocol (Food & Agr. Code, § 31752.5);
5. Posting lost and found lists (Food & Agr. Code, § 32001);
6. Maintaining records on animals that are not medically treated by a veterinarian, but are either taken up, euthanized after the holding period, or impounded (Food & Agr. Code, § 32003); and
7. Providing "necessary and prompt veterinary care" for abandoned animals, other than injured cats and dogs given emergency treatment, that are ultimately euthanized (Civ.Code, §§ 1834 and 1846).

It is imperative that everyone contact Governor Jerry Brown.  Tell him in the strongest terms that you OPPOSE the repeal of any portion of the Hayden Law.  California's shelters already kill at an alarming rate.  The perception is that California public policy prefers adoption over killing (even though it is the public responsible in large part for the overcrowding in the shelters).

• CALL Brown at (916) 445-2841 (9 am to 5 pm)
• FAX a letter of opposition (916) 558-3177
• EMAIL the governor's office at http://gov.ca.gov/m_contact.php (choose BUDGET as subject).
• POST to Governor Brown's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/jerrybrown
• TWEET to Governor Brown's Twitter page at @JerryBrownGov
• Sign this petition:  http://www.change.org/petitions/the-governor-of-ca-do-not-repeal-any-provisions-of-the-hayden-law

News Articles:

Sacramento Bee

News 10 Story

Winograd Article

Animal Law Coalition

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION AND CONTACT JERRY BROWN.  IF THE HAYDEN LAW IS REPEALED MANY SHELTER ANIMALS WILL DIE .