News Hound

I've written about this topic before, but with California close to running out of cash as it nears a deadline for a state budget, it bears repeating.

If you haven't heard, one way Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger intends to reduce the state's $24-billion deficit is to cut funding to city and county animal shelters. Part of this funding is used to support California's "animal adoption mandate," which keeps shelter animals alive no fewer than six days. The window allows owners time to relocate their lost pets and gives rescue groups a chance to claim unwanted or unclaimed pets so they can find new homes for them.

But Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposal would suspend the mandate - along with other services and programs - and trim the minimum holding period to just three days.

If you've lost a dog or cat, you know how important it is to continually check with your local shelter to see if your pet has been found. If the waiting period is reduced from six days to three, it's likely that many pets will be euthanized before they can be found, adopted or taken in by rescue groups.

What can you do? The ASPCA recommends that you call your state senator or assemblyman and urge them to oppose Schwarzenegger's plan to suspend the animal adoption mandate. Their site makes it easy to find your legislators' phone numbers.

If you live in California and have been thinking about adopting a pet, do it now. If you can't, make a short phone call. It could help save many pets' lives.