DogTime.com Endorses California's New Healthy Pet Bill

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 25, 2008 -- California is about to make headlines again for leading the way when it comes to innovative social policy. This time, state legislators look to save the lives of thousands of homeless dogs and cats who end up in animal shelters up and down the state. With no place to go, an estimated 800,000 dogs and cats are abandoned in the state each year. About half of those animals are euthanized.

Supporters of the bill, including http://www.dogtime.com, say the Healthy Pet Bill will go a long way in keeping pets out of shelters and in good homes; a core mission of http://www.dogtime.com, an online pet media organization and premier site for dog people.

"We chose to announce our support of this bill in advance of tomorrow's Annual Spay and Neuter Day to help build awareness of the issue," said DogTime.com CEO Trevor Wright. "Passage of this measure means happier, healthier lives for the cats and dogs of California. Just as the Michael Vick dogfighting case elevated the rights of animals, we believe that this bill will humanely protect our canine and feline friends in a socially responsible way."

Earlier this year, California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine re-introduced the pet friendly measure and a full state senate vote is expected this Spring. When Levine first introduced the bill a year ago, it churned up a political storm. It squeaked through the assembly, passing by a single vote. But, Levine later pulled the bill when it seemed like members of a Senate committee would vote it down.

Records of success are shining a bright light on the bill's future. The euthanasia rate in Santa Cruz, CA has dropped 64 percent since the City's local ordinance was passed.

The idea for the bill came from one California woman's animal rescue work in a New Orleans shelter after Hurricane Katrina. Judie Mancuso of Laguna Beach flew into the city to aid the animal rescue efforts. Once there, she concluded that, for pets, the aftermath might be as bad as the storm.

"When I walked into the shelter and saw that every animal in there was unaltered, I thought, we have a huge crisis on our hands. ... all of these healthy, beautiful, wonderful animals were going to the euthanasia table," she recalls. "I couldn't believe that's how we dealt with the problem."

After several years of full time rescue work and lobbying for the bill, Mancuso says, "It's going to be an honor to make this happen."

For more information on how you can can help and what this bill means, please go to: http://dogtime.com/spay-neuter-bill-end-to-homeless-pets.html.

About DogTime:

DogTimeMedia is the largest pet media network, reaching more than 10 million pet lovers through 50 pet sites, including Dogtime.com, the premier destination for dog people. Headquartered in San Francisco, DogTime staff's collective experience includes years of raising dogs, writing about dogs, rescuing dogs, training dogs, walking dogs, falling in love with and having our hearts broken by dogs. DogTime's mission is to keep dogs out of shelters and in good homes by equipping novice and experienced owners alike with all the information needed to make them, and their dogs, very happy. Trevor Wright is the President and Clare Ellis is the SVP of Content and Editor.

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