California Senate Bill SCR51 Latest Draft

 BILL NUMBER: SCR 51AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 25, 2011 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 22, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Senator Lieu JUNE 22, 2011 Relative to Microchip Your Animal Day 2011. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCR 51, as amended, Lieu. Microchip Your Animal Day 2011. This measure would declare July 7, 2011, to be Microchip Your Animal Day 2011 in California and would request that Californians observe this day by having their dogs and cats microchipped and by supporting organizations that provide no cost and affordable microchipping services. Fiscal committee: no. WHEREAS, In the State of California nearly one million dogs and cats enter our municipal animal shelters every year, costing taxpayers approximately $290 million annually, only 13 percent of these animals find their way home, and over half are euthanized in the shelters; and WHEREAS, Many of these unfortunate euthanized companion animals may have had a loving family desperately searching for them, but tragically, since the animals did not have identification, the shelters were unable to reunite the animals with their owners; and WHEREAS, Many people consider their animals as a member of their family and will expend any amount of money to help protect them; however, despite best efforts, many dogs and cats slip out of an open door and disappear and if the pet is wearing a collar and identification tag, chances are much improved that the pet will make it back home, but if the collar slips off, the pet may face euthanasia within 72 hours of separation; and WHEREAS, A significant source of this problem is the lack of identification which allows for the reunification of lost animals with their owners; only 13 percent of lost animals are reunited with their owners, while 74 percent of microchipped animals are returned home; and WHEREAS, Microchipping is a safe and effective way to get animals back home and prevent them from entering the shelter system; and WHEREAS, Many lost pets are scanned at veterinarian offices or in the field by animal control and returned to their owners without ever being impounded; and WHEREAS, Californians can contribute to the effort by microchipping their own companion animals and by supporting programs in their communities that offer accessible microchipping services; and WHEREAS, Veterinarians, humane societies, animal control agencies, and national and local animal welfare organizations will join together and advocate the microchipping of dogs and cats on "Microchip Your Animal Day 2011"; and WHEREAS, This measure would declare July 7, 2011, to be Microchip Your Animal Day 2011 in  California. In honor of this day, a free microchipping clinic will be available on the east steps of the State Capitol from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.   California,  and the Legislature requests that Californians observe this day by having their dogs and cats microchipped and by supporting organizations that provide no-cost and affordable microchipping services; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California declares July 7, 2011, to be Microchip Your Animal Day 2011 in California, and requests Californians to observe the day by having their dogs and cats microchipped and by supporting charitable organizations that provide microchipping services.