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Celebs turn out to support responsible pet ownership
Nip/Tuck actress joins Majority Leader, fellow Hollywood stars in backing SB 250
SACRAMENTO – Actress Kelly Carlson of the FX show Nip/Tuck will be in the State Capitol on Wednesday to add her voice to the chorus of support for responsible pet ownership, testifying in committee on behalf of Senate Bill 250.
The measure, by Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter), seeks to save California taxpayers from the financial and emotional cost of killing nearly half a million unwanted pets in the state’s overburdened shelters each year. It will face its first vote Wednesday morning in the Senate Local Government Committee where Carlson will testify. Reality TV stars Matt Grant of “The Bachelor” and Lacey Conner of “Rock of Love” previously joined Florez in introducing the bill.
Prior to the policy hearing on SB 250, Carlson and Florez will hold media availability in Florez’s Capitol office to discuss the importance of spaying and neutering and responsible pet ownership.
Every year, more than a million cats and dogs come through California’s shelters, with half of those pets being put to death. The annual cost to taxpayers for this preventable tragedy is a quarter of a billion dollars -- $250,000,000.
Senate Bill 250 – The Pet Responsibility Act – seeks to implement statewide a program which, when tried in Santa Cruz County, reduced shelter euthanasia rates there by 60%.
The measure calls on all California pet owners to get their dogs spayed or neutered by six months of age, or obtain a license to keep their dog unaltered. Under SB 250, cats which are allowed to roam freely would also have to be spayed or neutered. Florez believes the bill will greatly reduce pet overpopulation and the need for euthanasia, allowing much-needed tax dollars to be redirected to more positive and constructive purposes.
The measure provides great flexibility for responsible breeders and pet owners who care for and maintain control of their unaltered animals.
“All we are asking for is responsible guardianship of your pets,” Florez said. “People who love and respect animals should agree that reducing pet overpopulation and euthanasia is a goal we should all strive for. People who couldn’t care less do not need to have animals breeding unchecked and creating this burden on our shelters and for taxpayers.”
*** MEDIA ADVISORY *** MEDIA ADVISORY *** MEDIA ADVISORY ***
WHO: Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, D-Shafter
Kelly Carlson, star of the FX series Nip/Tuck
WHAT: Media Availability regarding SB 250 – The Pet Responsibility Act
WHEN: Wednesday, April 15, 2009;
10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Office of Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez
State Capitol, Room 313; Sacramento, CA
For Immediate Release Jennifer Hanson
April 14, 2009 916-651-4016
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