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September 21, 2026

Your Voices Were Heard:

Governor Newsom Vetoes AB 1722!

and

"Justice for Animals" Event Photo Carousel

GOVERNOR NEWSOM VETOES

ANTI-WOLF LEGISLATION!

We are so thankful and relieved to report that Governor Newsom has vetoed AB 1722, a bill that would have created a statutory defense to the killing ("taking") of a California endangered species, including wolves. We send our gratitude to Governor Newsom for hearing all of our voices, being astute in not being duped by this bad bill, and doing the right thing by vetoing AB 1722!

As mentioned in the Governor's veto message, Californians already have a fundamental right to protect themselves and others from immediate bodily harm. This bill would have created confusion about how to apply the right to defend oneself and tied the hands of Department of Fish and Wildlife officers when enforcing poaching laws. The law would have made it much easier for bad actors who intentionally kill a wolf or other endangered species to simply claim self-defense—a "get-out-of-jail-free" card, so to speak.

We led the opposition to this bad bill and won because we had your support. The thirty-seven groups and over 900 individuals officially listed in opposition came from our website signup letter. "We" stopped this bad bill - not other groups. We are so thankful to all of you for joining us in the opposition effort.

We know that it is not always easy to see the connection between your calls, emails, and letters in support of or opposition to a bill, but this is a fantastic example of how your voice makes a HUGE difference!

Thank you, thank you, thank you

for making our "Justice for Animals" event a success!

Dear Friends,

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supported and/or joined us for our “Justice for Animals” event this past Saturday at the beautiful home of our extraordinary hosts, Alya and Dr. Gary Michelson.

It was such a special evening, reconnecting with longtime friends, welcoming new ones, and celebrating the elected officials, animal rescuers, advocates, and supporters whose dedication makes meaningful change for animals possible. The night was filled with smiles, laughter, inspiring conversations, and a shared commitment to creating a more compassionate world.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated in support of our work. We simply could not do what we do without you. Your generosity allows us to continue fighting for stronger protections, advancing groundbreaking legislation, and giving animals a voice where they need it most.

And a very special thank you to our fantastic photographer, Ella Hovsepian, who did an absolutely outstanding job capturing the evening.

Click on the photo above to see Ella’s beautiful photos from the event!

Click below to access all of the

BECAUSE THEY NEED US episodes!

Thank you to everyone who has donated this year. We need your donations to exist! If you appreciate our work, please donate, we cannot continue without your financial support.

With tons of gratitude, Judie

Judie Mancuso, founder/CEO/president

Social Compassion, 501(c)(3)

Social Compassion in Legislation, 501(c)(4)

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