LETTERS
To the Editor,
The unregulated breeding of cats and dogs is the greatest crime against innocence in the world. The breeders gain tax-free income while Ca taxpayers shell out up to 300 million dollars a year to euthanize 500,00 pets a year, and without the legions of humane societies and rescuers the tax burden would be even higher. Why do we subsidize their small business? If the breeders would take the pets back at any time there would be no problem but they want to take the money and run. Many counties don’t even have enough money for humane euthanasia and pets are routinely tortured to death with leaky gas chambers and other crude devices. I support breeding laws for pets
Sincerely,
Pam Rochell
Old Santa Ynez Day
Thank You
What a great day! Music, a parade, toss tortillas, dancers, more music, draw pictures, and eat watermelon real fast! A BIG thank you to Old Santa Ynez Day 2007 sponsors Santa Ynez Elk’s lodge 264, Castle Contracting Corp., Krazy Country 105.9,Rio Vista Chevrolet, United General Title, Valley Oaks Printing and of course Steven Siegel our Grand Marshal. A lot of happy kids thank kid’s game sponsors Santa Ynez Valley Inn, Sage brush Painting, On the Run Shoes, Elam Realty, S.Y.V. Feed Store, the Red Barn Restaurant, Star Drugs, Joe Olla Realty, Moniot Electric, the Longhorn Restaurant, Brent and Jeff’s Carpets, Valley Oaks Cabinets, Santa Cota Market, Dr. Dean, Kamric Interiors, The Vineyard House Restaurant, Star Toys, and Harrison Hardware. Thank you also to Valley Wind Ensemble, The T-Bone Ramblers, Union Asphalt, Health Sanitation Service, the Moniot family, Santa Ynez Florist, John’s Chevron, Gold Coast Auto, The Maverick Saloon, the Ballet Folklrico Dance Troup, All of our wonderful parade people; The Mad Hatter, The Santa Ynez Valley News, the Santa Ynez Valley Journal, the Boy Scouts of America Pack 41, and all the local merchants who give up their parking spots one day a year. Finally, thank you to the Old Santa Ynez Day Committee; you know who you are, espicially badge man Dan Kelly, and my 4 super heroes Kelly Sadecki, Nancy Beauchamp, Carla Miranda and My wife Karen. Your hard work makes Old Santa Ynez Day the best valley celebration for….oh… how ‘bout 45 years now! Last but not least thank you Bob Trupe for your help with our first contribution to the valley this year painting and restoring the bobcat on the Raymond Carricaburu building at Santa Ynez school. It looks GREAT! Thanks again if I missed anyone, and we’ll see y’all Saturday June 14 2008 somewhere along Sagunto Street, downtown Santa Ynez.
Bosco Carricaburu,
SYV Elk’s Lodge 2640
Old Santa Ynez Day Chairman
Dear Editor:
As a shelter volunteer for several years, I can say from experience that the problem of pet overpopulation is not getting better. Our county shelters are often full to capacity. Last year, Santa Barbara County
euthanized over 2000 dogs and cats. Statewide, the number killed in shelters is close to 500,000. Most of these animals need never have been born, had the owners of their parents been responsible and had them altered. The City of Lompoc passed a dog spay/neuter law last year because it recognized that voluntary restraints weren’t working, and that public safety was at stake. The CDC tells us that 75% of dog bites are by intact males. They are more likely to roam, and more aggressive due to hormonal drives. The opposition claims that shelter numbers have gone down statewide. This is not true. Reporting from animal control agencies to the state’s health department went down from 58 to 44 jurisdictions from 1995 to 2005; the opposition uses the numbers from 44 jurisdictions as if they were all the numbers out there. They do this to claim that we don’t need AB 1634. Like their claim that early spay/neuter is unhealthy, it’s just not true. AB 1634 is long overdue. Urge your state legislator to vote for it.
Sincerely,
Hannah Savage
Dear Editor:
When I read your article about AB 1634, all I could think was, how can anyone oppose this bill? It is called the California Healthy Pets Act for good reason. First, it will save lives. Right now, California impounds nearly a million dogs and cats, killing nearly half of those. If unwanted animals aren’t born, they won’t have to suffer in cages only to be killed. Most of the animals euthanized are less popular mixed breeds that come from careless or accidental breeding. AB 1634 would reduce that by requiring that owners spay or neuter those kinds of animals, while allowing owners of valid breeds to keep their pets intact for a fee roughly equivalent to the current unaltered license ($39 per year in this county). Second, AB 1634 will promote the good health that comes from spaying and neutering. When opponents say that early spay/neuter is unhealthy, they are relying on outdated or discredited science. The AVMA and CVMA have both endorsed “pre-pubertal” spay neuter as safe. The younger, recently educated vets know this.
Spaying and neutering eliminates or vastly reduces the risks of a number of diseases, as well as hormonally based behavioral problems. Most important, these laws work--again, contrary to opposition claims. Santa Cruz County passed its ordinance in 1995, and has seen a 64% decline in sheltered animals since then. That’s good enough for me, and it is what the animals of the entire state deserve.
Lynne Shaw,
Santa Barbara Animal Rescue
Dear SYV Journal:
Thanks for doing the work to verify the facts about AB 1634. It is worth noting how often the opposition seems to spread disinformation about this bill. First, they claim that proponents are misrepresenting the numbers of animals in shelters. Not so. Santa Cruz’s calculated rates of declining shelter intake are based on their own numbers, which are available to anyone who asks for them. Then it’s just a matter of doing the math. Next, they claim that AB 1634 will mean that there will be no more new pets because “all” dogs and cats will have to be spayed or neutered. In fact, this bill offers a number of exemptions, to make sure there are plenty of wanted pets out there: 1) for licensed breeders of pure or mixed breeds; 2) for “valid breeds” (a broader term than “purebred,” offering more flexibility) that show or compete, plan to show or compete, or have titles; 3) for pets with health problems that make the procedure inappropriate; and 4) for working dogs and breeders of working dogs of various kinds, since they provide such a valuable service. Anyone who tells you otherwise hasn’t read a recent version of the bill, or is just spreading opposition propaganda. Check out the bill for yourself at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html
Then, they claim that the law would impose outrageous fees on those who qualify for intact permits. In fact, the bill expressly prevents charging both an intact permit fee and a license fee, and limits the fee to the cost of administering the permit program. Since animal control agencies already sell unaltered licenses, and will simply be replacing those with intact permits, the “cost” of the program should be roughly equivalent to the unaltered license. That fee is currently $39. Bottom line: this bill was introduced to address the all-too-common problem of casually bred dogs and cats, cast aside because they were too easily acquired and are worthless to their owners. Last year I helped a family put their dog in a county shelter: a relative’s un-spayed female had bred with another dog, resulting in a mixed breed litter that they were giving away. The family took one, because it was free and cute and the kids begged--even though they knew their lifestyle was incompatible with dog ownership. A year later, they had an un-socialized, barking, digging problem and no time or money to deal with it. Had they had to pay even a moderate amount for it, as from a licensed breeder, they would have given the matter thought and made a better choice. Instead, everyone paid the price--them, the dog, and the taxpayers of Santa Barbara County.
Sincerely, Jodie Stern
In response to the Amgen Race
All I ever here about the Amgen race is how inconvenient it was for everybody. Hasn’t anyone bothered to find out who they actually are? This is a VERY conservative valley and I think a lot of people here don’t know that what the Amgen Company does is stem cell research. I thought this was supposed to be a hot issue. Just thought I’d throw that out there. Some people might be surprised.
Francine Feldmann,
Santa Ynez
Furry Friends: Fourth of July,
On July 5th many people find themselves searching for their lost pets. Even more spend hours coaxing frightened animals out of hiding and back into their normal routine. Most pets are not accustomed to the firework explosions and displays and find our celebration terrifying. To help our pets cope with our Independence Day celebrations, the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society recommends taking the following precautions: a. Your pets won’t enjoy the fireworks display, so leave them at home!
Keep them inside, shielded from loud noises. Close the curtains and turn on the TV or radio to provide some distraction. A quiet place, such as a carrier, may provide your pet with a sense of security and comfort. b. If loud noises upset your pets, do not leave them alone while you’re out celebrating make sure someone can stay with them. c. If you must be outside with your pet, keep the pet on a leash or in a carrier at all times. d. Keep your pets away from matches, open fires, and fireworks -especially ones that are lighted on the ground. Pets may try to sniff (or eat) fireworks, and pet hair can easily catch fire if too close to the fireworks. e. Make sure pets ID is current. Make sure that your pets have proper identification tags, with current information, in case they get away. f. If you think your pets should be tranquilized, consult your veterinarian well in advance. g. Contact an animal behaviorist to work with your pets on their fears. With some positive reinforcement and behavior modification training, by next Independence Day, you all may be free from worrying about any of this! Ideally, it is best to be at home with your pet during stressful situations. If this is not possible, we suggest boarding your pet or using your own airline carrier to contain it safely. If you have an overly nervous pet, you may want to consult your veterinarian regarding a tranquilizer. If you should lose your pet, or find someone else’s, please be sure to report it to Santa Barbara County Animal Services and the S.Y.V. Humane Society - 688-8224. On July 5th many people find themselves searching for their lost pets. Even more spend hours coaxing frightened animals out of hiding and back into their normal routine. Most pets are not accustomed to the firework explosions and displays and find our celebration terrifying. To help our pets cope with our Independence Day celebrations, the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society recommends taking the following precautions:
• Your pets won’t enjoy the fireworks display, so leave them at home! Keep them inside, shielded from loud noises. Close the curtains and turn on the TV or radio to provide some distraction. A quiet place, such as a carrier, may provide your pet with a sense of security and comfort.
• If loud noises upset your pets, do not leave them alone while you’re out celebrating make sure someone can stay with them.
• If you must be outside with your pet, keep the pet on a leash or in a carrier at all times.
• Keep your pets away from matches, open fires, and fireworks - especially ones that are lighted on the ground. Pets may try to sniff (or eat) fireworks, and pet hair can easily catch fire if too close to the fireworks.
• Make sure pets ID is current. Make sure that your pets have proper identification tags, with current information, in case they get away.
• If you think your pets should be tranquilized, consult your veterinarian well in advance.
• Contact an animal behaviorist to work with your pets on their fears. With some positive reinforcement and behavior modification training, by next Independence Day, you all may be free from worrying about any of this!
Ideally, it is best to be at home with your pet during stressful situations. If this is not possible, we suggest boarding your pet or using your own airline carrier to contain it safely. If you have an overly nervous pet, you may want to consult your veterinarian regarding a tranquilizer. If you should lose your pet, or find someone else’s, please be sure to report it to Santa Barbara County Animal Services and the S.Y.V. Humane Society - 688-8224.