The recent Supreme Court ruling found that the 2008 California state law, which made it illegal for slaughterhouses to receive a non-ambulatory animal has been struck down. The ruling stated that any animal who could not stand on its own was to be returned to the farm or humanely euthanized.
The safety and treatment of farm animals in California now depends on the federal bill, HR 3704, which the House Agriculture Committee is considering. The Humane Society and animal activists are supporting this federal bill to enact tougher federal laws to include humane treatment of all animals and to keep the food supply sanitary. Forcechange.com has targeted Congress with a petition asking that this ruling be nullified.
Another blow to the animal community has come from Governor Brown who is proposing to trim the state budget at the expense of California's pets. Governor Brown is now planning to rescind Hayden Law, which forced California animal shelters to be more accountable and gave the public longer to find their lost animals before they were put to sleep (PTS). Tom Hayden, an animal rights activist, who originally authored the legislation has created a video pleading with Governor Brown not to rescind the law, and is asking the public to help by signing this petition.
Euthanasia will become the standard operating procedure at shelters if Hayden Law is rescinded. Other states facing the same budget issues are not cutting back on animal services as Governor Brown suggests that California should do. Animal activists consider treating strays as a line item in the budget will put all animals on the urgent list, and finding a forever home for the thousands of abandoned animals statewide will be virtually impossible.
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