Advocacy

AB 2216 would limit landlords’ ability to charge monthly pet rent, prevent tenants from owning pets without reasonable justifications for their policy, and other practices that prevent tenants from owning pets and/or that result in tenants relinquishing their pets to shelters.  

SB 1233 requests that the University of California and Western University of Health Sciences establish standards and certification for High-Quality, High-Volume Spay and Neuter Surgical Techniques and begin to offer these techniques in their veterinary medicine curriculum. 

AB 1983 would re-establish the Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund to support municipal animal control agencies in spay and neuter efforts, This bill would re-initiate the program allowing an individual to designate a contribution to the Fund on their tax return, allowing compassionate Californians to continue to contribute and help solve the pet overpopulation crisis.  

AB 1988 would align state statutes by clarifying that kittens and puppies surrendered by their owners can be made immediately available to nonprofit rescue and adoption groups. This bill will help ensure that limited shelter space is available when needed and that surrendered puppies and kittens can find a home swiftly. 

AB 2248 would limit some predatory practices that commercial pet sellers use to make their sales, including the use of non-refundable deposits before important information is disclosed. AB 2248 would void contracts between California consumers and online brokers of dogs and cats that require a nonrefundable deposit and fail to disclose the original source of a dog or cat prior to a deposit being issued. The bill also requires sellers to return money to the buyers within 30 days if the contract is voided. 

Shelter Policy and Legal Services (PALS) champions policy change and provides free legal advice and assistance to other shelters in California to improve animal outcomes. Learn more here.