Sonoma Valley Dog Owners & Guardians 
Laws and regulations pertaining to dogs in California can vary widely, depending on the jurisdiction. While state laws and regulations are typically applicable state-wide, they often provide counties and municipalities with leeway and descretion to promulgate and administer their own ordinances and policies under the general state scheme.
Below are Links to sources of Laws and Regulations regarding dogs and other animals that may be of interest to dog-lovers in Sonoma Valley. These links are provided for general information only and are not intended to provide legal advice. Those with specific legal questions regarding a situation pertaining to their dog, or dogs in general, should consult an attorney familiar with dog and animal law.
The following legislative update on various animal legislation activity in the
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2013 CALIFORNIA ANIMAL LEGISLATION as of May 3 Next Legislative Meeting: Monday, June 3, 11am – 1pm, Room 115 State Capitol Building, Sacramento. All animal advocates welcome to discuss pending bills. ASSEMBLY AB 265 by Assembly Member Mike Gatto re: Dog Parks. Support. Provides that cities/counties are not liable for injuries occurred at dog parks. To Be Heard: May 8. Assembly Local Government. Katcho Achadjian, Chair. Tell him AB 265 will help cities/counties to establish dog parks, providing exercise/socialization needed for dogs, and people, too. AB 272 by Assembly Member Jimmy Gomez re: Rabies. Requires dogs to be vaccinated against rabies at three months instead of four months. To Be Heard: Senate Agriculture. Cathleen Galgiani, Chair. Tell her other states require the rabies shot at three months. Some dogs coming from out of state are being vaccinated twice or having to be quarantined. An amendment to limit the bill to dogs coming from out of state is being sought by opposition who say 3 months is too young for rabies shots. AB 339 by Assembly Member Roger Dickinson re: Flea Market Animal Sales. Support. Prohibits the selling or giving away of animals at swap meets and flea markets. To Be Heard: Assembly Appropriations. Assembly Member Mike Gatto, Chair. Tell him these animals have no protection and are subject to impulse buying and poor conditions. Pit bulls, cats, rabbits, and smuggled parrots are among the victims. Ask Assembly Member Dickinson not to take any weakening amendments. Flea markets are not pet shops. We should not legitimize something that should be banned. AB 497 by Assembly Member Wes Chesbro re: Fish & Game Commission. Requires the Fish & Game Commission to form a “wildlife resources committee” consisting of at least one Commissioner. Lowers the number of required Commission meetings from ten to eight per year and allows more meetings in Sacramento. To Be Heard: Assembly Appropriations. Assembly Member Mike Gatto, Chair. Tell him the number of meetings shouldn’t be lowered as agendas are already packed. The Commission has the Al Taucher Committee devoted to hunting/fishing. A wildlife resources committee should represent “non-consumptive use.” AB 711 by Assembly Member Anthony Rendon re: Hunting. Support. Prohibits the use of lead shot in hunting. To Be Heard: Assembly Appropriations. Assembly Member Mike Gatto, Chair. Thank him for introducing AB 711. Lead shot is banned in products for humans and is prohibited by the federal government for waterfowl. The state bans it in condor habitat. Wildlife deserves this protection. AB 789 by Assembly Member Das Williams re: Trapping. Support. Prohibits cruel killing methods of animals in traps such as drowning, crushing chests, and injections of substances not meant for humane killing and reduces the size of killer conibear traps set on land. To Be Heard: Senate Natural Resources. Senator Fran Pavley, Chair. Tell “nuisance trappers” who kill wildlife for a living need to be regulated and the animals need to be protected, including non-targets. AB 924 by Assembly Member Frank Bigelow re: Rustling. Increases penalties for theft of cattle, horses, mules, sheep, pigs, and goats. Increased fines go to the Calif Dept of Food & Agriculture’s Bureau of Livestock Identification. To Be Heard: Assembly Appropriations. Assembly Member Mike Gatto, Chair. Tell him any fine money should go to local law enforcement’s court costs. Also, the Bureau of Livestock Identification (brand inspectors) is interested in cattle, not horses, sheep, etc. AB 924 should be limited to cattle. AB 1097 by Assembly Member Brian Nestande re: Mirage Trail/Bighorn Sheep. Requires Fish & Game Commission to determine the opening/closure of the Mirage Trail in the Magnesia Spring Ecological Reserve to protect Peninsular Bighorn Sheep from hikers. Originally stated the “primary function of the Dept of Fish & Wildlife is to provide services to persons who hunt and fish,” but was successfully amended to remove that mandate. Paw PAC’s position changed from opposition to neutral. AB 1213 by Assembly Member Richard Bloom re: Bobcats. Support. “Bobcat Protection Act of 2013” requires the Department of Fish & Wildlife to work up a management plan. If no plan is developed by July 2015, the law will prohibit trapping, exporting, selling bobcat fur or product. Prohibits trapping in area surrounding the Joshua Tree National Park. To Be Heard: Assembly Appropriations. Assembly Member Mike Gatto, Chair. Tell him the demand and price for bobcat fur is rising , especially in foreign markets, impacting their population in California. AB 1301 by Assembly Member Richard Bloom re: Fracking. Support. Places a moratorium on fracking and mandates review of effects on wildlife, environment, and public health. To Be Heard: Assembly Appropriations. Assembly Member Mike Gatto, Chair. Tell him fracking should be banned as dangerous, polluting our environment and contributing to possible earthquakes. SENATE SB 65 by Senator Mark Leno, AB 73 by Assembly Member Bob Blumenfield re: Budget Both budget bills under item 8885 “suspend” the Animal Adoption (Hayden law) mandate meaning it is still on the books, but State Mandates Board will not reimburse costs of complying with certain sections. The requirement for shelters to cooperate with rescue groups is still intact as it costs the state nothing. SB 132 by Senator Jerry Hill re: Mountain Lions. Support. Requires non-lethal alternatives to killing mountain lions unless there is an imminent threat. Allows the Dept. of Fish & Wildlife to partner with organizations to implement the alternatives. To Be Heard: Senate Appropriations. Senator Kevin de Leon, Chair. Tell him mountain lions deserve alternatives to killing. There are organizations/individuals willing to help with capture, transportation, rehabilitation and veterinary care. SB 132 has been put on the “suspense” list because it is claimed it will cost the state $350,000. “Suspense” items must be taken up by May 24. Contact: www.mountainlion.org SB 392 by Senator Tom Berryhill re: Hunting. Oppose. Would have exempted birds from the ‘possession” limits if they are processed for immediate consumption, but was amended to require the Fish & Game Commission to make recommendations for legislative change or pass a regulation that determines the “end point of possession limit.” To Be Heard: Senate Appropriations. Senator Kevin de Leon, Chair. Tell him bag and possession limits should apply no matter when the birds are processed/eaten. The law should remain as it is. SB 688 by Senator Cathleen Galgiani re: Animal Medicines. Support. Exempts shelters, veterinarians, and animal rescue groups from sales tax. Sponsored by the California Board of Equalization, who determines who pays sales tax. To Be Heard: May 8. Senate Governance & Finance. Senator Lois Wolk, Chair. Tell her medicine can be very expensive, preventing people from seeking veterinary care. It will be great help to rescue organizations. COMMITTEES Assembly Appropriations: Mike Gatto, Chair. Diane Harkey, Vice-Chair. Frank Bigelow, Raul Bocanegra, Steven Bradford, Ian Calderon, Nora Campos, Tim Donnelly, Susan Eggman, Jimmy Gomez, Isadore Hall, Chris Holden, Eric Linder, Richard Pan, Bill Quirk, Donald Wagner, Shirley Weber. Assembly Local Government: Katcho Achadjian, Chair. Marc Levine, Vice-Chair. Luis Alejo, Steven Bradford, Richard Gordon, Ben Hueso, Melissa Melendez, Kevin Mullin, Marie Waldron. Assembly Natural Resources: Wes Chesbro, Chair. Shannon Grove, Vice-Chair. Frank Bigelow, Cristina Garcia, Al Muratsuchi, Jim Patterson, Nancy Skinner, Mark Stone, Das Williams. Senate Agriculture: Cathleen Galgiani, Chair. Anthony Cannella, Vice-Chair. Tom Berryhill, Ted Lieu, Lois Wolk. Senate Appropriations: Kevin de Leon, Chair. Mimi Walters, Vice-Chair. Ted Gaines, Jerry Hill, Ricardo Lara, Alex Padilla, Darryl Steinberg. Senate Governance & Finance: Lois Wolk, Chair. Steve Knight, Vice-Chair. Jim Beall, Mark DeSaulnier, Bill Emmerson, Ed Hernandez, Ted Lieu. Senate Natural Resources: Senator Fran Pavley, Chair. Anthony Cannella, Vice-Chair. Noreen Evans, Jean Fuller, Ben Hueso, Hannah-Beth Jackson, Ricardo Lara, Bill Monning, Lois Wolk. DROPPED (some may be brought up next year) AB 343 by Assembly Member Jim Patterson re: Ag Gag. Oppose. “Ag-gag” bill to punish people who document cruelty to animals by requiring material be given to law enforcement within 120 hours or face fine. AB 1045 by Assembly Member Bob Blumenfield re: Animal Shelters. Updates current law on “pound” to “animal shelter”, “unwanted” to “surrendered” and “destroyed” to “humanely euthanized.” AB 1045 has been given to another legislator for an unrelated subject. AB 1230 by Assembly Member Tim Donnelly re: Hunting with Hounds. Oppose. Repeals last year’s complete ban on the hunting with dogs for bear and bobcat. SB 175 by Senator Jean Fuller re: Guns in State Game Refuges. Oppose. Allows concealed firearms in State Game Refuges. SB 675 by Senator Lois Wolk re: Animal Welfare Standards. Requires Dept. of Food & Agriculture to set “standards for animal welfare.” CALIFORNIA FAIR BOARD Administration Building, 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815. www.calexpo.ca.gov. 916/263-3276 Farrowing Crates The Agricultural Advisory Council Livestock & Animal Care Committee discussed the welfare of pigs in farrowing crates which the Fair exhibits. The Committee, composed of people with agriculture interests, decided against banning the crates. They also won’t consider banning the birthing exhibits, where pregnant pigs give birth in front of the public. Write: Fair Board. Ask them to ban housing the females and babies in such extreme confinement. Pregnant animals should not be transported and give birth exposed to the noise of fireworks and strangers. Nor should animals, such as goldfish, be given away as prizes. Next Meeting: May 31. 12:30. 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 1416 – 9th St. Sacramento, CA 95814. 916/653-4899. www.fgc.ca.gov Appointments Governor Jerry Brown has been a disappointment in his choice of Commissioners, such as his re-appointment of pro-gun/hunt/political donator Jim Kellogg. Richard Rogers has been there long after his replacement is due. There are vacancies who should go to environmentalists and advocates for wildlife alive. Write: Governor Jerry Brown. Ask him to fulfill his obligation for the Commission to represent the public. Live Animal Markets The Commission has gone back and forth for years on banning the importation of bull frogs and turtles. Their latest action has been their continued inaction, dumping the issue again on the Legislature who won’t touch it. Write: California Fish & Game Commission. Tell them the markets need to go back on the agenda for action. Next Commission Hearing: May 22 – 23, Los Angeles. To watch via computer: www.fgc.ca.gov Governor Jerry Brown (916/445-2841) and all legislators: State Capitol Building, Sacramento, CA 95814 Email follows a pattern: Assemblymember.Last name@asm.ca.gov., Senator.Last name@senate.ca.gov. Warning: Many legislators do not pay attention to email. Letters, faxes, and phone calls are best. It is always best to contact your own Assembly Member and Senator, Committee Chairs, and bill authors. To find your State Assembly Member and State Senator: http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov. Many legislative hearings can be seen at calchannel.com. For copies of legislation, analyses, votes, contact info: www.leginfo.ca.gov. Subscribe to Paw PAC’s email legislative alerts. info@pawpac.org. Your donation, by check or PayPal, via our website, is needed to pay expenses. Paw PAC is all volunteer. List compiled by: Virginia Handley.