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Friday, January 24, 2025

SB 221, A BILL TO EXPAND STALKING LAWS TO INCLUDE

ANIMAL PROTECTION, INTRODUCED

January 24, 2025 - Today, SB 221 was introduced by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh - a continuation of her previous efforts to strengthen California's stalking laws to include threats made to one's pet, including service and emotional support animals, and horses.


Last year SCIL was a supporter of SB 89. This year, Senator Ochoa Bogh asked SCIL to sponsor SB 221, which we are honored to do. The bill at introduction has an impressive list of bipartisan coauthors, including Senators Alvarado-Gil, Arreguín, Choi, Dahle, Hurtado, Niello, Seyarto, Umberg, Valladares, and Wahab, and Assemblymembers Chen and Essayli.


The bill originated from the advocacy of the Riverside District Attorney, which saw themselves handcuffed from prosecuting people who would threaten the life of a pet of their stalking victim. This bill would align California's stalking law with federal stalking laws.


"I don't believe any California legislator would want to tell their own daughter that there's nothing the law can do when her stalker threatens to steal or kill her beloved cat or dog," said Judie Mancuso, Founder and President of Social Compassion in Legislation. "SB 221 is the kind of compassionate and reasonable policy Californians support, and we are grateful that Senator Ochoa Bogh entrusts our group to help get it to the Governor's desk."


An estimated one in three women (31.2%) and one in six men (16.1%) in the United States report enduring stalking at some point in their lives. One National Crime Victimization Survey estimated that four in 10 stalkers threaten a “victim or the victim’s family, friends, co-workers, or family pet,” with 87,020 threats to harm a pet being reported 


Current California statute ignores threats to pets as a means of terrorizing stalking victims. The relationship between animal cruelty and violent behavior, often referred to as “The Link,” has been widely studied. The abuse of animals is often an indicator of an escalation of violence towards a human, and threatened cruelty towards pets can be a means to “perpetuate terror” towards a targeted individual. 


This is not the first time SCIL has sponsored a bill related to "the Link" between animal and human violence. In 2023, SCIL sponsored AB 829, which ensured judges consider higher levels of mental health treatment than what is mandated for those convicted of animal abuse. That bill was graciously signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom and went into effect in January, 2024.

UPDATE ON LOS ANGELES

FIRE ANIMAL RESCUE EFFORTS

L.A. TIMES EDITORIAL ON LACK OF RESPONSE AND EMPATHY FOR ANIMALS


Click on the picture below to read the article

LATEST ANIMAL RESCUE


Our coalition of rescue partners continue to save lives. Yesterday, we rescued a 22-year old cat, Toastie, from the Palisades rubble. His owner, Chuck, was over the moon to have his beloved cat of 22-years back in his arms.


After 16 long days surviving in the burn zone of the Palisades fire, Toastie was rescued!


His family’s home was completely destroyed and had lost all hope—until two days ago, when he was spotted on camera.


We are so thankful for the efforts of our partner, Women United for Animal Welfare, who worked tirelessly to get Toastie back home, and so many other cats reunited with their owners.


REUNIFICATION CHALLENGES


We urge all shelters that are affected by the burn areas to make it simple for families to find their lost animal and extend their hold periods.


We have been to the L.A. City, L.A. County, and Pasadena websites and, at best, found that it takes multiple clicks and digging through links as well as sorting through other non-fire animals to find the ones which have been taken in specifically during this disaster period. At worst, these animals are impossible to find.


After all these fire victims have gone through with the trauma of losing their homes, we must make it effortless to go to these websites and with one click find their lost animal from this tragic disaster.


As some of you who may have read my book already know, in the Hurricane Katrina disaster, due to the mismanagement of tracking the rescued animals, many were shipped out of state without a trace and the original owners were not able to ever find them. We must not repeat these same devastating mistakes of the past.

We rely on your ongoing support to continue our life-saving rescue efforts and to advance our vital 2025 legislative work. Every contribution, no matter the amount, makes a meaningful impact—please consider donating today.


Judie Mancuso, founder/CEO/president

Social Compassion &

Social Compassion in Legislation

Donate to our 501(c)(4) to support our legislative efforts: non-tax deductible
Donate to our 501(c)(3) to support our rescue efforts: tax deductible

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