California budget crisis cuts mandatatory holding time for animals at pet shelters to 3 days

[Liberal_in_LA]

Budget crisis cuts holding time at pet shelters

Peter Fimrite, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

The notion that your beloved pet could escape the yard and be put to death before you even have time to post flyers is a real possibility because of California's budget crisis, according to animal shelter and Humane Society officials.
More Bay Area News

The recent budget compromise between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders to reduce a $26 billion deficit included a provision that reduces the mandatory holding period for stray animals from six days to three days.

So Spot's decision to walk himself while you were gone over a three-day weekend could end up costing him his life.

"It makes a difference because for some animals every day counts," said Cindy Machado of the Marin Humane Society, which does not euthanize animals that can be adopted. Instead, the society rescues thousands of animals facing death at other shelters.

"The new law will affect a lot of the shelters that we rescue animals from because, especially in this economy, they are bursting at the seams," she said.

Most Bay Area animal shelters do not kill strays unless they have serious health or behavioral problems - for instance, viciousness - that would make them unsafe to adopt.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/07/BAT619I416.DTL&tsp=1#ixzz0QUy3xaKg

[pecwae]

1. All these fur babies who need homes,

but I'm sure the 'designer', pedigree and backyard breeders are still doing business.

[kimmylavin]

2. Jesus, this guy hates animals.

Tried to raise taxes on veterinary services last year, and now this.
WHY can't he come up with a budget solution that doesn't include more dead pets?