NEW CALIFORNIA ANIMAL LAWS EFFECTIVE 1/1/07

Dog Tethering:  Prohibits any person from tethering, fastening, chaining, tying, or restraining a  dog to a dog house, tree, fence or any other stationary object for a period of time not to exceed three hours in a 24-hour period, or a time that is otherwise approved by animal control.

Please read more from the  Human Society

Animal Abuse: Provides that leaving or confining an animal in any unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or well-being of an animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, or lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death to the animal is a crime punishable by a fine, imprisonment or both fine and imprisonment. An animal control officer or peace officer may enter the vehicle in order to save the animal.

CRUELTY IN COLUSA COUNTY

Below are cruelty incidents that concerned citizens brought to the attention of the authorities. Not all cases proceeded to criminal violations.

January 2008 - Two dogs: one senior dog not receiving veterinary care; puppy without adequate shelter - died of hypothermia.

January 2008 - Undernourished female dog with puppies.  She had ribs showing and she was also chained.

February 2008 - Dog had a collar that was embedded in it's neck. 

March 2008 - Abandoned horse outside of Williams.

May 2008 - Dog had embedded collar & family member cropped ears with scissors.

June 2008 - Three children under the age of 5 yrs old, beat adult dog to death.

August 2008 - Severely thin dog, exposed skin on hind end, very weak, lethargic, matted hair.  This dog had an owner.

Animal Welfare

• Thank you to Governor Schwarzenegger for signing into law AB 2949 so quickly.  AB 2949 amends California Civil Code to require property owners including banks or other corporate entities to immediately notify animal control officials when animals are abandoned at foreclosed properties.  Read more at aspca.org. or you can read  AB 2949 in it's entirety at leginfo.ca.gov.    8/16/08

• A bill was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives by John Conyers (D-Mich) last month.  HR 6597 "The Animal Cruelty Statistics Act of 2008" would require the U.S. Attorney General to collect data on all animal cruelty crimes and to make that data available to the public through the Bureau of Justice Statistics.  (This info was provided by thehorse.com.  Article #12451)  The bill is  pending.  8/16/08

•  If you witness animal cruelty by a veterinarian, veterinary assistant, technician, or a groomer you MUST contact your local animal control dept. or police dept.  No formal education is required to work as a veterinary assistant, technician or groomer.  Only a technician who has graduated from a college that has been approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association and has passed the state exam is then a licensed veterinary technician, signified with RVT after their name.  The state license that is issued to the veterinarian or registered veterinary technician must be prominently displayed in the office.  If you don't see these - question who is taking care of your animal!  You have the power to speak for the animals and stop the abuse.  If you don't report the abuse, the negligence, the charging of unauthorized procedures, you allow these acts to continue to the next unsuspecting animal and their owners.

      The animals rely on you to keep them safe.

          REPORT ANIMAL CRUELTY OR ABUSE:

             Colusa County Animal Control                  458 - 0200

             (division of Colusa County Sheriff Dept.)

          REPORT NEGLIGENCE, UNAUTHORIZED

          PROCEDURES OR SERVICES:

              Colusa County District Attorney

               Investigator Pamela Craig                       458 - 0588

          Accompany your animal if possible, ask questions - what

          services will be performed by the vet, the assistant or the

          tech?  Can the groomer see your dog on the grooming

          table at all times?  Does the groomer use a drying cage?

          Is the dryer on a timer?

          Before you pay your bill, were additional procedures or

          services performed without your permission?

          Veterinarians, technicians, groomers who are employed by

          the large pet store corporations are no different than those

          working at smaller establishments.

          You, the owner, are in control - there are no stupid questions

          when it comes to your pet's care.

                     "Be Aware, Show You Care"

          Do you want to check to see if a veterinarian has any citations against

          him?  You can look it up at the California Veterinary Medical Board.

          Go to vmb.ca.gov and click on Check Veterinarian License on the right

          side of page.  If a citation was issued it will note under License status.

                                                    OR

          You may call the VMB 916 - 263 - 2610

          Ask if the person you are inquiring about has any citations against them. 

          You must send a request in writing for complete details of the violation.

          These "professionals" took an oath ' to do no harm'.  Please stop them

          from hurting the animals that were brought to them in their time of need.

                Two neglected horses  found without food or water ~ one dies. 

Read story below;

• DA Investigator Pamela Craig confiscated one horse from a field at River Road and Laux Road north of Colusa Friday evening  of July 27th.  The horse was dehydrated and in emaciated condition.  A second horse was found dead. The horses hadn't had access to water for an unknown amount of time  with past temperatures being over the 100 degree mark. During the investigation, the owner, John B. Allen of Sutter Creek, CA, admitted no one had checked on the horses since July 5th.  The seized horse was in critical condition however is showing signs of improvement.  The horse is in the custody and care of the DA's office.  The horse will remain in the custody of the DA's office as evidence until criminal proceedings are completed. UPDATE 8/3/07:  The District Attorney's office filed charges this morning.  Penal Code 597 (b)...every person who fails to provide the animal with proper food, drink or shelter is guilty of a crime punishable as a misdemeanor or as a felony and by a fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000). Thank you to the volunteers from Sacramento River Fire Dept and FOCCAS for assisting in this rescue.  A big thank you to the citizen who called the Sheriff's Dept. in time to save the other horse.  It just takes one phone call to save a life.  UPDATE 9/4/07:  Mr. Allen's attorney received a 30 day extension.  The new arraignment date is October 3 at 9 am. UPDATE 10/4/07: A preliminary trial is scheduled for November 21.  UPDATE 11/21/07:  The judge ruled for two felony animal cruelty counts, one for each horse, against Mr. Allen today.  Mr. Allen was offered the opportunity for a lesser plea but he declined.  He will be arraigned on Monday December 10 at 9:00am.  UPDATE 12/10/07: Mr. Allen's new attorney did not enter a plea.   His attorney  asked and received a postponement until mid January in order that he may study the case.  The next court date is January 14, 2008. You may read the latest article at appeal-democrat.com and search for the November 28th article about Allen horse neglect in Colusa.   (We will keep you informed as this case progresses.)  UPDATE 1/14/08:  A  JURY TRIAL DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR JUNE 3, 2008.      UPDATE 6/24/08:   Verdict -  a hung jury.  It was 9 to 3 to convict Mr. Allen of animal cruelty.  A retrial is pending.  We will continue to keep you updated.

• Cruelty cards are available at Davison's Drug and Chung Sun Market in Colusa. Keep these handy cards in your purse, in your truck or at home.  The cards have the phone number to call to report animal abuse + 10 signs of possible animal abuse. 

• The Humane Society has a great article on what you can do about animal abuse. Please view the attached link to their website for further information.

              http://www.hsus.org/acf/cruelty/publiced/what_you_can_do_animal_abuse.html   

   

           

  

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