|
We are happy to announce that AB 1781, the Safe Transportation of Dogs and Cats Act, passed the Senate Business and Professions Committee with an unanimous vote of 12-0. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) requires mobile or traveling housing facilities, such as animal control vehicles, to transport dogs and cats in such a manner that conditions do not endanger the health or well-being of the animal due to extreme temperatures or lack of food or water.
"It is a tragic fact that dogs and cats being picked up or transported for adoption have died in transit due to heat," said Judie Mancuso, founder and president of Social Compassion in Legislation. "We must protect them from dangerous conditions during transport that could take their life. We want these animals to arrive at their destination safe and sound. With the climate crisis accelerating at the pace that it is, we must have a law in place to ensure their safety."
With 2021 being the hottest year on record and temperatures in California ranging from below freezing to well over 100 degrees, animals being transported inside animal control or other mobile housing facility vehicles can be at risk of severe injury or death. Yet, currently, there are no minimum standards in California for climatic conditions while transporting dogs and cats in these vehicles. This bill closes the gap.
AB 1781 was drafted in response to several animal control directors, local county veterinarians, animal control associations, as well as the input from a forum of over 45 statewide representatives of shelter directors, managers, volunteers, and the animal rescue community that met in Southern California to discuss legislation that could better shape how animal control agencies care for animals.
The bill now moves to the Senate floor.
| 
