Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,
It’s good to see Capitol Weekly devoting some ink to animal protection
issues (“Levine, Koretz head Assembly’s ‘Animal Caucus,'” Capitol Weekly,
April 20). Indeed “animal bills” are among those that generate the most
constituent communications–whether your animal of choice is an elephant or a
donkey.
Stereotypes notwithstanding, both Democrats and Republicans lead on
legislation aimed at protecting animals. This session the conservative
Capitol Resource Institute endorsed a bill to ban the sale of cloned pets,
Republican Assembly member Audra Strickland championed a successful bill to
strengthen regulations and enforcement for owners of wild and exotic
animals, and Governor Schwarzenegger has signed every animal-protection bill
that has reached his desk. Concern for animals is clearly bipartisan.
Legislators still have the opportunity this session to adopt emergency plans
for pets and service animals during disasters, crack down on illegal
cockfighting, end “coursing” events where dogs harass and kill rabbits and
other wildlife in timed contests, set minimum-care requirements for
elephants in zoos and circuses, and improve the treatment of animals in
other areas of state law. The Humane Society of the United States, on behalf
of its more than one-million members and constituents in California, urges
legislators to pass these reforms.

Jennifer Fearing
Director of Economic Research
The Humane Society
of the United States

Dear Editor,
In response to your article concerning the Legislature and animal issues: I
had the unfortunate privilege to be represented by Ray Haynes prior to
redistricting. As a constituent concerned about animal welfare, I visited
Haynes on numerous occasions to discuss issues such as pet overpopulation.
He relayed to me that he thought that people concerned about animals were
“nutballs.” Yes, that is the exact term he used!
I can tell you with complete certainty that he had, and still has, many
constituents concerned about animal-welfare issues. The truth is, he doesn’t
care about animal issues, so letters and visits he receives on behalf of
them are simply disregarded. The only thing Ray Haynes cares about is Ray
Haynes. Term limits cannot come soon enough!

Sincerely,
Priscilla Gargalis
Canyon Lake, CA

Dear Editor,
I staff Senator Figueroa on animal-welfare legislation and wanted to send a
quick note of appreciation regarding your animal-bill article. I also wanted
to point out a couple of things:
1) Senator Figueroa’s animal-welfare legislation, S.B. 1806, which seeks to
protect animals left inside closed vehicles in the heat, recently was
approved by the Senate Public Safety committee with both Republicans voting
in favor.
2) Animal welfare is of the issues where Senator Figueroa receives the most
constituent e-mails and letters.

Again, many thanks,
Laura Metune