It’s high time California passed the detailed Pet Responsibility
Act Dear Editor, Each year, California spends more than $250
million dollars to kill more than 500,000 pets.
It’s high time California passed the detailed Pet Responsibility Act
Dear Editor,
Each year, California spends more than $250 million dollars to kill more than 500,000 pets.
The time has come for SB 250, the Pet Responsibility Act. SB 250 provides a reasonable, fair, and fiscally responsible step towards reducing the pet overpopulation crisis in California. Authored by state Sen. Dean Florez, SB 250 is widely supported by a diverse coalition of elected officials, law enforcement agencies, city and county agencies, humane societies and SPCAs, veterinarians, national animal welfare organizations, and California rescue organizations.
The Pet Responsibility Act in detail calls for:
- Spaying and neutering: Dogs six months or older must be altered, unless guardian obtains an unaltered dog license or provides a certificate of sterility.
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Roaming cats: Cats six months or older must be spayed or neutered, if the guardian allows the cat to roam outdoors.
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Exemptions: Animals likely to suffer harm from surgery, due to age or illness are exempt.
Denial/revocation: Unaltered licenses my be denied or revoked if:
- Occurrences of roaming or neglect are documented by animal control.
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The guardian has been previously cited for violating animal care laws.
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The dog is deemed dangerous.
Sale: If a dog or cat is transferred or sold, the license number must be documented for the new guardian.
- Penalties: A penalty for guardianship of an unaltered animal can be issued only when the unaltered animal is concurrently cited for some other violation. Persons cited for unaltered animals must have the animal spayed or neutered.
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Impoundment: Impounded animals not in compliance with the law must be altered (by the shelter or a private veterinarian) to secure release of the animal.
The most powerful thing that we can do to help SB 250 pass into law is to send letters of support to present to the Senate Local Government Committee. Please mail your support letters to Sen. Dean Florez, State Capitol, Room 313, Sacramento, CA 95814; or fax your letters to: (916) 327-9057 For more information, please visit www.YESonSB250.com SB 250 The Pet Responsibility Act – it’s the right thing to do.
Evon Dumesnil, Morgan Hill
Is Morgan Hill subsidizing you?
Dear Editor,
On April 21, I read that the city has decided to lower the taxes on the Ford dealership even though they only pay 1 percent in city taxes. I also read that same day that the Courtesy Chevrolet was closing it doors after 12 years. So it’s no surprise that the Ford dealership was struggling. But why is the city deciding to help the Ford dealership when other businesses in Morgan Hill struggle?
There has been no suggestion to lower the taxes on restaurants or hotels in our city despite the fact that their business has probably dropped by 20 percent or more. The transit taxes for hotels remain at 10 percent. There has been no talk of reducing the taxes on you or I even though you and I might be struggling financially.
So why we should we lower taxes on the Ford dealership?
I don’t have anything against Ford cars, but I never understood why the city was so eager to attract car dealers in the first place. If the dealership isn’t able to sell enough cars to remain in town, should we subsidize it by lowering its taxes? I don’t believe the residents of Morgan Hill find it attractive to have car dealerships line the highway. I suppose the answer was the extra revenue that the city would generate from taxes of cars sold. However, rather than using tax breaks to attract gas guzzling car dealerships, we could have used those breaks to attract renewable energy companies. Or we could have used it to subsidize you?
Asit Panwala, Morgan Hill
Commending the South Santa Clara County Fire District personnel
Dear Editor,
On April 1, we noticed smoke in our garage. The fire department came out to diagnose and extinguish smoldering lint in our dryer. I would like to thank my neighbors, Gene Ciraullo and Conchi Garcia for their help and kindness.
In addition, I would like to thank the South Santa Clara County Fire District for their prompt and professional service. I didn’t get the names of the firemen, or supervisors who were here, but I do have their business card that reads “The South Santa Clara County Fire District is dedicated to provide professional customer service through performance and accountability.”
I have never read a more accurate statement. My family cannot thank you gentlemen enough.
Dawn Peru, San Martin
