Jan 22 2009
Washington State Pet Legislation
I received the following email text from the ASPCA to make me aware of legislation that was introduced into Washington state:
Dear Washington Animal Advocates,State Senator Craig Pridemore and State Rep. Brendan Williams have introduced Senate Bill 5329 & House Bill 1406, companion bills in the Washington State Legislature that would create targeted spay/neuter programs for pets of low-income residents and feral/free-roaming cats. The bill does not make spay/neuter mandatory, and the fund won’t take money away from other programs.
Animal homelessness is a serious problem in Washington—and with pet abandonment on the rise, the problem is only getting bigger. Because pets in low-income households are less likely to be sterilized, their offspring make up a significant part of the overpopulation crisis. SB 5329/HB 1406 will help make spay/neuter surgery possible for a substantial number of Washington pets whose owners simply cannot afford it on their own.
At least eight other states have established successful, targeted spay/neuter programs for pets of low-income residents. These states have found that as fewer and fewer homeless dogs and cats enter their shelter systems, the spay/neuter programs save both lives and taxpayer dollars.
What You Can Do
The Senate Agriculture & Rural Economic Development Committee is expected to hold a hearing on SB 5329 before the end of the month. Please visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center online to personalize and send a letter to all the senators who serve on the committee that urges them to vote in favor of SB 5329.Thank you for your help, Washington.
You can visit them at ASPCA.
