Arizona HB 2375 - Dangerous Animal Bill

Sponsored by: Chad Campbell, Cloves Campbell, Kyrsten Sinema, Nancy Young Wright, Edward Ableser

The title of this bill sounds good, doesn't it? But, let's take alook at the "dangerous wildlife" that "A person shall not import or transport into the this state, or sell, trade or release within thethis state or have in his possession possess any live wildlife exceptas authorized by the commission, as provided by section 17-321 or asdefined in title 3, chapter 16."

* All species of the order carnivora. Common names include:carnivores, skunks, raccoons, bears, foxes and weasels. What this bill doesn't point out is that the order carnivora INCLUDES ALL DOGS AND CATS!

* The family bovidae - which includes GOATS, SHEEP AND COWS but has an exemption for water buffalo! Although what makes a water buffalo less dangerous than a cow I can't imagine. This bill would instantly put all the cattle, sheep and dairy farmers out of business in the state.

* Quail, turtles, grouse, fish and practically every mammal and non-mammal a person could think of having as a pet are listed as"dangerous."

I don't know what's more frightening: The fact that these representatives didn't understand the bill sponsored. Or the fact that they understand it completely and hope the citizens of Arizona don't understand it.

Santa Cruz County Proves Mandatory Spay/Neuter Doesn't Work

Santa Cruz County, California passed mandatory spay/neuter in 1995 and is often held up as a model of how that "works." So, let's take a look at how it actually works and compare Santa Cruz with other Counties that don't have mandatory spay/neuter.

• Santa Cruz County’s euthanasia rates are higher than those in nearby counties such as Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Marin — none of which have mandatory spay/neuter laws.


• Santa Cruz County’s euthanasia rates are 44% higher than San Diego County’s, which does not have mandatory spay/neuter.


• Santa Cruz County’s euthanasia rates are more than 4 times higher than Nevada County’s, which does not have mandatory spay/neuter.


• Santa Cruz County’s euthanasia rates are 16 times higher than Calgary’s, the best animal control program in North America, where they also do not have mandatory spay/neuter.

In addition to soaring euthanasia rates, costs for animal control in Santa Clara have also soared. Costs for Santa Cruz County as a whole have doubled - from approximately $650,000 a year to over $1,300,000. For example, the city of Watson's contribution to the Santa Cruz County Animal Services Authority has spiked $100,000 to more than $490,000.

In Capitola, the decision to drop out of the agency June 30, the end of the fiscal year, was based on the bottom line, said City Manager Richard Hill. That city has seen its costs triple in recent years. Capitola was expected to pay in excess of $70,000 in the coming year. Since the agency serves little more than 100 animals from Capitola each year, the price tag was too high, he said.

Even this data does not seem to have proved to Californians and others that mandatory spay/neuter laws do not work. For example, California's SB250 threatens to take this law statewide. Can California afford the increased costs?

Increased costs are not the only impact the passage of SB250 will have on California. Decreased revenue is another. Each year over 1100 AKC events are held in that state with each bringing $300,000 to $1,000,000 into the local economy coffers. How many of these events will be eliminated once SB250 passes? Can Californians afford to lose this revenue?

UKC Activity Reward gift certificates

Every dog that earns a UKC Championship Title in separate event areas from June 1, 2009 through May 31, 2010 will receive a $25 gift certificate for each new qualifying UKC title earned. Dogs with current UKC titles that earn additional UKC titles in separate event areas during this period will receive a $25 Gift Certificate for each new qualifying title. These Gift Certificates can be used for UKC services including registration, transfers, pedigrees, magazine subscriptions, and entry fees for specified events.

“The UKC understands how much time and resources our customers put into their dogs and wanted to find a way to reward them for their contributions to a more versatile and vibrant gene pool. We continue to encourage breeders and owners to strive for titles in multiple event areas to emphasize the great success of our UKC Total Dog philosophy. This UKC approach keeps our events, breeders, and owners focused on dogs that do far more than just look the part”, said UKC President Wayne Cavanaugh.

Examples of title eligibility:
Not Eligible: A beagle who has earned the HBCH title that receives the GRHBCH title
Eligible: A beagle who has earned the HBCH title that receives the conformation CH title
Not Eligible: A dog who has earned the UAGI title that receives the UAGII title
Eligible: A dog who has earned the UAGI title that also receives the UCD title
Not Eligible: A coonhound who has earned the GRNITECH title that receives the WLDNITECH title
Eligible: A coonhound who has earned the GRNITECH title that also receives the GRWCH title
Not Eligible: A dog who has earned the TCH title that also receives the GRTRCH title
Eligible: A dog who has earned the TCH title that also receives the GRSQCH Not Eligible: A dog who has earned the UWPCH title that also receives the UWPCHX title
Eligible: A dog who has earned the UWPCH title that also receives the UROI title
Not Eligible: A terrier who has earned the URCH title that also receives the URGCH title
Eligible: A terrier who has earned the URCH title that also receives the FO title
Not Eligible: A retriever who earned the CH title that also receives the GRCH title
Eligible: A retriever who earned the CH title that also receives the HRCH title

Since retirement I’ve settled into a routine now of staying up until 3 a.m. and then sleeping until 9:30 – 10:00a.m. So this morning I’m woken up (around 8ish) because someone is opening the chain link on the side gait by our bedroom. A quick look tells me it’s the pool man so I go back to bed.

A few minutes later I hear him leave and I start to snuggle back in… only to think “hmmm, the puppies didn’t bark. Maybe I should go take a look.” (The puppies are in a double x-pen on the patio between the living room and the pool.) So I toddle out of bed and there’s Jacob in the pen where he should be. And, there’s Edward happily running around the pool! It appears that Edward climbed out of the short side (30”) of the pen. Luckily he didn’t fall in.

So, today we are busy rearranging things with taller x-pens. I keep thinking that Trouble and Mischief would be more appropriate names for these two than Edward and Jacob.

Happy New Year everyone! Here's wishing you a prosperous and healthy 2009.

We had a quiet New Year at home. Edward discovered toilet paper rolls. He tried to sneak into the bathroom whenever the door was left open in order to grab the toilet paper and run like crazy. Jacob, on the other hand, went after the champagne. He'd gotten a sip New Year's eve and loves the stuff. Besides calling him "Lush Puppy" we are going to sign him up for canine alcoholics anonymous. Both puppies enjoyed a cheese treat today in celebration.

Viva La Diva!

While I'm sharing pictures of our puppies, I thought I'd share one of my favorite Eskie (American Eskimo Dog) puppy. Her name is Diva - because she thinks she is one. Diva was an "only puppy" and is totally spoiled.

The Beginning

I thought I'd share my newest puppies with you. There are two of them, both boys, named Jacob and Edward. I named them after two of the main characters in the Twilight Saga. Jacob is the bi black puppy on your left and Edward is the bi blue puppy on the right. Both are Shelties (Shetland Sheepdogs).

They are the cutest (and nosiest) puppies! They chase each other all over the house barking and playing. Right now they are playing keep away with a stuffed duck that quacks.