California's Pet Ban

[MafiaPrincess]

Any of you read about Cali's proposed new law?

Not sure petitions do much, but can't hurt The Official Stop the California Pet Ban! - Petition going to the hearing this morning:

Save California Pets from Unjust Seizure!

State hearings on October 1, 2009 could eliminate due process and allow officers to seize pets if they “look” related to a wild animal.This affects any “wolfy” looking canine, i.e. Tamaskans, Utonagans, Siberian Husky, German Shepherds, Northern Inuit Dog, Akitas, Belgian Shepherds….

Fish and Game Commission hearings on October 1 are reviewing regulations that will enable the state and local animal regulation to seize your pets, force you to provide containment systems that most people cannot meet, and eliminate the need to prove that the animal is the regulated species. These “hybrid defense” regulations specifically authorize the officers and wardens to determine whether your pet is a regulated species without the burden of proof, and require the application of the “most protective” standard.

For our loved ones, this means that your pet can be determined to be a wild animal — such as wolf, coyote, or other — simply by visual inspection. No scientific standards or tests are required — in fact, the regulations are written in order to “relieve the burden” of proof. Your 99% Malamute may be subjectively determined to be 1% wolf, so full wolf rules would apply.

Most cities and counties in California use these Fish and Game Commission manuals as their guide for animal control and seizure. Most currently use such rational measures to determine whether an animal is dangerous, but now would have their procedures based on instructions that say they should or must apply the standard of the wild species, and to use the higher level of protection (such as the containment and permits applicable to full wolves). Your white shepherd may be picked up for getting out of the yard, and you might find yourself forced to build enclosures that won’t fit on your property, or even choosing to move to another county instead of putting your pet to sleep.

Potential costs of the new regulations have been understated. The Fiscal Impact Statement for the Proposed Regulations describe this as having no private sector costs, specifically stating that there is no expected financial impact to individuals. There are an estimated 300,000 – 500,000 dogs that are likely to have some recent wolf ancestry in the United States, and many millions of Northern breeds, German shepherds, and other wolf-like breeds. We can expect that tens of thousands of California households can be impacted by these onerous regulations, at high financial and emotional cost.

[Pops2]

not saying it's right but i wouldn't feel sorry if the pol who introduced the bill had his car/home trashed once a week until he withdrew the bill.

[Sweet72947]

Don't forget fuzzy coated Shiba Inus! They look like foxes!

This bill is stupid. *off to sign the petition*

[Zoom]

This on top of New Brunswick passing their pitbull ban...if it looks ANYTHING like a pit, they can seize and destroy, no questions asked.

I hate California. All our Chazzers need to move to another state, so I won't feel as bad for wishing the entire state would just crash into the ocean.

[Izzy's Valkyrie]

Yeah I'm beginning to hardcore hate CA and I have half my family there... They all need to move to Texas (They're all mostly mexican )

[Pops2]

if it gets passed, this law may not stand up as there is no due process for the loss of private property as required under the constitution.

[Lilavati]

Originally Posted by Pops2

if it gets passed, this law may not stand up as there is no due process for the loss of private property as required under the constitution.

There are two problems with that assumption. The first is that "due process" will be interpreted in a way that is meaningful when it collides with a "safety" regualtion. Don't count on it . . . they've done much the same with pit bulls.

The other assumption, and this one is huge, is that someone will actually challange it. This requires someone will the money, balls, and determination to do so who is ALSO not going to immediately flee the area with their dog if their dog looks too "wolfy" and they don't have, say, papers. Now, it could easily be a well-off person with a shelter dog, except for another glitch . . the truely arbitrary enforcement of this sort of rule doesn't tend to happen to middle-class or upper-middle class suburbanities who will fight. It tends to happen to the poor, who when AC says their Akita/GSD/Malamute mix looks part wolf, don't have the resoruces to fight back . . . and these are also the sort of peolple who when they say it is not a wolf, they can easily say are lying.

[Labyrinth]

I'm so glad we finally left California. I'd still love to get one of those Arnold cat toys so I can take a picture of my ferrets pooping on it.