On April 29, the San Francisco SPCA joined forces with animal advocates, state lawmakers, and welfare leaders from across California for our third annual Animal Advocacy Day. It was a day full of energy, collaboration, and momentum toward meaningful change for companion animals in our state.
Representatives from the San Diego Humane Society, Valley Humane Society, CalAnimals, ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, Humane World for Animals, and the Michelson Center for Public Policy joined the SF SPCA and dozens of supporters in meetings with legislators and their staff. Together, we explained how current legislation can address urgent issues affecting animals and their people—from veterinary workforce shortages to transparency in shelter data to the pipeline of puppies coming into California from puppy mills.
The bills we’re sponsoring
This year, the SF SPCA is proud to sponsor two critical bills designed to expand access to veterinary care: AB 516 and SB 602.
These bills help alleviate California’s veterinary care shortage by increasing veterinary teams’ capacity to serve more pets across the state. AB 516 clarifies that Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) and veterinary assistants can perform any task not explicitly prohibited by law, reducing regulatory confusion that has slowed shelter and clinic operations. SB 602 allows RVTs to perform vaccine and parasite control “wellness” appointments without requiring a veterinarian to be on-site. This bill will help increase the availability of free and low-cost preventative care, particularly in communities with limited access to veterinary services.
The bills we’re supporting
In addition to sponsoring legislation, we joined partners in supporting several other important bills as part of our 2025 legislative agenda:
AB 631 increases transparency and accountability by requiring animal shelters to post specific operational data on their websites, making it easier for the public and stakeholders to understand the needs and outcomes of their local shelters.
AB 928 helps law enforcement, including animal control agencies, combat the illegal trafficking of fighting birds to protect them from the extreme animal cruelty associated with cockfighting.
SB 312, AB 506, and AB 519 work together to curb unethical breeding and sales practices. These bills will require public access to import documents, prohibit deceptive sales practices, and ban retail sales by brokers working with inhumane breeders.
Celebrating five years of Shelter PALS
This year also marks the fifth anniversary of Shelter PALS (Shelter Policy and Legal Services), the SF SPCA’s signature initiative to advance animal welfare law statewide. Shelter PALS has helped shape California policy by drafting legislation, offering legal consultations to shelters and rescues, and defending the interests of animals through strategic litigation. It remains the only pro bono legal program in the country dedicated exclusively to the legal needs of animal shelters and adoption organizations.
“Animal Advocacy Day is always an inspiration,” said Bruce Wagman, Keith C. Wetmore Shelter PALS Special Counsel. “This year, we saw advocates and lawmakers come together with a shared purpose—to strengthen protections for animals and remove barriers to care. It’s an honor to stand alongside such passionate people working to make California more humane.”
Join us next year
We’re grateful to every advocate, lawmaker, and partner who made this year’s event a success. If you care about improving the lives of animals and the people who love them, we hope you’ll join us next year for Animal Advocacy Day 2026!
Learn more about our legislative priorities and how you can get involved by visiting our Advocacy page.
Photo credit: San Diego Humane Society