Dogs, Cats Face Sterilization Under ‘3 Strikes’ Bill

Your story does not accurately reflect what AB 1634 proposes. Spay/neuter would kick in on the basis of complaints made, not investigations of an animal control officer. The bill defines a complaint as a written or ORAL report that ALLEGES violation of a state or local law. In our community, this is not limited to dog bites, etc., but includes leash length, use of the dog park, food in the dog park, picking up dog waste, hours that dogs (on leash) may be on the beachfront sidewalk, and a prohibition of dogs on school grounds, which is often confusing because many local parks abut school grounds with no marked border. There are also a host of State laws ranging from care of pets to restrictions within State parks and campgrounds. Not only may inadvertent violations lead to expensive and possibly traumatic surgical consequences, mere ALLEGATIONS may also result in the same consequences. It is not true, as stated in your article, that a strike would be counted upon a vist by an animal control officer. Merely receiving a complaint creates a strike, even if the animal control officer never investigates, even if the complaint is false. Read it yourself at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_16- 01-1650/ab_1634_bill_20080618_amended_sen_v91.html