California Assembly Member Patrick O'Donnell Introduces AB 485, A Life-Saving Bill To Mandate Adoptions Of Rescue And Shelter Dogs, Cats, And Rabbits Offered In Pet Shops

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Social Compassion In Legislation (SCIL), a leading California-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to finding solutions for the welfare, protection, and rights of animals, has sponsored a new bill referred to as the Pet Rescue & Adoption Act, Assembly Bill 485 authored and put forth this morning by Democratic Assembly Member Patrick O'Donnell of Long Beach, who represents District 70.

"Inhumane breeding facilities are mass-producing animals for sale to the public, even as overcrowded shelters euthanize millions of dogs and cats each year," said Assembly Member O'Donnell. "The Pet Rescue & Adoption Act celebrates responsible pet ownership by supporting access to rescues and pet adoptions."

"I am proud to be the Principal Co-Author for AB 485 the Pet Rescue and Adoption Act. I am excited to work with my colleague Assembly Member O'Donnell to pass this bill to help end the inhumane and deplorable breeding practices of Puppy Mills, and to foster increased adoption opportunities for local shelter pets," said Assembly Member Matt Dababneh. 

Following in the highly successful footsteps of the City of Los Angeles' ordinance originally passed in 2012 and permanently extended in 2016, the new bill will require all dogs, cats, and rabbits offered for retail sale to be obtained solely from public or private animal shelters located in California and non-profit rescue groups. The life-saving L.A. ordinance has been replicated in 31 other California cities and over 200 cities throughout the United States. 

"L.A.'s 2012 ordinance to prohibit pet stores from selling dogs, cats, and rabbits that do not come from shelters or rescues has struck a blow against the puppy mill industry.  We believe it is also increasing pet adoptions at our local shelters, which means pet shops are becoming a part of the solution, not the problem, in combating pet overpopulation. I commend Assembly Member Patrick O'Donnell and Social Compassion In Legislation for taking this concept statewide," said Los Angeles City Council Member Paul Koretz.  

"With the introduction of AB 485, thousands of shelter and rescued animals will have a chance of finding their forever homes by getting out of the shelters and into storefronts," said Judie Mancuso, president of Social Compassion In Legislation, who also spearheaded the original bill passed by the City of Los Angeles along with many other local jurisdictions in the state. 

"As California taxpayers, we spend over a quarter of a billion dollars annually to house and kill animals.  We need to implement solutions and not settle for status quo for one more year."

Tragically, more than 2.7 million healthy adoptable dogs, cats, and rabbits are euthanized each year in shelters throughout the United States. California shelters put down over 1,200 dogs and cats every single day.

SOURCE Social Compassion in Legislation