AB 1634: Involuntary pet altering Speech for Sen.

George Runner

Its a pleasure to speak to you today against a bill that offers no solutions for California pet owners, in fact, would create more problems. My thanks to PetPac for giving me an opportunity to participate in your rally.

I believe animals should be spayed and neutered, but when, where and how that pet is altered is the sole decision of the pet owner, not state government.

And thats the first problem with this bill: It just creates more bureaucracy and burdens the lives of hard-working Californians.

This bill does what so many other misguided bills do it seeks to develop a one size fits all all solution for our entire state.

Each county should be free to set their own animal control policies that reflect the areas unique problems and situations.

AB 1634 also requires responsible pet owners to pay for the sins of the irresponsible ones.

It also has yet another wealth distribution effect of taxing some while providing a benefit of free/low cost spay/neutering services for others.

I also oppose this bill because it unfairly allows a select group to continue breeding their animals while other groups are forbidden.

This bill also violates our core principle of that local control should trump state control. This bill interferes with the right to own and enjoy personal property without interference by government.

The groups and people who oppose this bill are numbered in the thousands, and I stand with them to say AB 1634 is the wrong approach to controlling our pet population.