AR-News: LA Times letters re Schwarzenegger and companion animal population control

[Karen Dawn]

Los Angeles Times

June 29, 2004 Tuesday
Home Edition

 CALIFORNIA; Metro; Editorial Pages Desk; Part B; Pg. 12

 LETTERS TO THE TIMES ;
State Must Take Action to Control Pet Population



An outpouring of outrage persuaded the governor to cancel misguided plans to
repeal the Hayden Act, which extends the mandatory time animals are kept in
shelters before they are killed ("Pet Lovers Howl, So Governor Rolls Over,"
June 26). But unrestricted companion animal breeding, despite hundreds of
thousands of pets being put to death every year, has led to a crisis that
must be addressed.

The government would like to save money, but the Legislature has been
unwilling to take humane, effective action that would control the pet
population and save the government much needed funds that are spent on
animal holding and extermination. We need restrictions on breeding, and laws
that enforce spaying and neutering. Whether to kill animals in three days or
six days is not the choice a civilized society should be making.

Karen Dawn

Pacific Palisades
-------------------------------------

Do Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's children not own pets of any kind? He may
have rescinded his original order, but we should log this snafu for constant
reference and monitor the governor on issues regarding children, the
elderly, the handicapped and minorities. What was he thinking, and did he
really for a minute find this a viable method of cutting costs? If yes, what
hath he wrought? We have a yikes in the White House. Is there another in the
governor's mansion in California?

Ronald L. Wallace

Sherman Oaks