SDHS In Sacramento for Animal Advocacy Day

San Diego Humane Society leadership spent April 16, 2024, in Sacramento for Animal Advocacy Day, ensuring lawmakers heard our voice on crucial animal welfare initiatives. They met with San Diego area legislators and staff to discuss support for legislation to expand access to veterinary care, increase operational transparency, remove barriers to pet-friendly housing and strengthen animal protection laws. The advocacy effort aligns with our organization’s mission to create a more humane world by inspiring compassion and advancing the welfare of animals and people. To view the bills San Diego Humane Society supports and opposes, click here.

Animal shelters throughout California are responding to multiple complex issues facing pet owners including soaring cost of care, housing affordability, housing restrictions, and a critical shortage of access to veterinarians in every community throughout California. SDHS has proudly stayed at zero euthanasia of healthy or treatable shelter animals since 2002. However, for more than a year, we have received more animals than our facilities are designed for. The animals are experiencing longer lengths of stay, which makes it harder to manage the spread of contagious diseases, increases the likelihood of behavior challenges, and puts immense stress on staff and animals.

In Sacramento, our SDHS leaders also shared our opposition to Assembly Bill 2265 (McCarty). AB 2265, if enacted, would be detrimental to animal welfare efforts. It undermines shelters’ abilities to make informed decisions in the best interest of both animals and the public. By stripping away essential industry-recognized definitions and imposing rigid mandates, this bill threatens to exacerbate shelter overcrowding, increase animal suffering and compromise public safety. You can also read the opposition letter from private practice and shelter veterinarians here.

San Diego Humane Society urges lawmakers to reject AB 2265 and instead collaborate on solutions that get to the root cause of challenges that begin long before an animal enters shelter doors. “We are grateful for the support of many legislators who are responding to the difficulties facing California’s animal shelters.” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO, San Diego Humane Society. “We need everyone’s help to address these complex issues effectively. Collaborating on and advocating for state policy that supports animal welfare efforts to improve care and positive outcomes is crucial.”

Advocacy Day in Sacramento is an opportunity for animal welfare partners across California to make their voices heard about important animal related initiatives. In attendance from San Diego Humane Society were President and CEO Dr. Gary Weitzman, Executive Vice President Brian Daugherty, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Zarah Hedge, Sr. Director of Government Relations Julianna Tetlow, Director of Operational Programs Emily Scheerer and Board of Trustee member Sharon Blanchet.