I love a dog. He does nothing for political reasons. —Will Rogers
Politics permeates our lives. Whenever decisions get made by groups of people, politics is at play. As much as we might like to ignore the partisan slugfests and big-money corruption, the show goes on… and on. So in this election-season issue of Bay Woof, we take on the topic of California Dog Politics.
The effort to create lots of dog-friendly open spaces is fraught with politics, but in recent years the movement has done pretty well, according to Gail S. Green, author of Dog Parking It! – a guidebook to the best canine play destinations in California. She provides an overview of where we are now and where we are going. As further encouragement for you to go play, we revive our popular Rover Report this month. In the new format, various correspondents fill you in on canine recreation issues in their locales. As you might guess, it’s often all about politics.
This year saw the passage of several important animal protection measures by both houses of the State Legislature. Governor Schwarzenegger thumbed his nose (by wielding his veto pen) at some of them, but a few new humane laws are on the books.
The most highly politicized piece of legislation was SB 250 – a mandatory spay/neuter bill deemed “The Pet Responsibility Act of 2009.” Passionate proponents insisted that it would go a long way toward reducing euthanasia rates in the state’s public shelters; equally passionate opponents argued that it could do just the opposite. The bill generated heated public debate and was eventually killed on the Assembly floor.
The California Department of Public Health reports that nearly half a million dogs were “put to sleep” in the state in 2008, according to figures from 61 reporting jurisdictions. Obviously, strong measures are needed to end this mid-boggling slaughter. Read the opposing views of SB 250 on pages 14 and15 and make up your own mind about mandatory spay/neuter. The bill’s author, State Senator Dean Florez, has vowed to revive it during the 2010 session, so study up and get active on this important issue next year.
Our Nose for News column brings you several political tidbits this month. Of special interest to local dog lovers: two high-profile local animal organizations – The San Francisco SPCA and The Milo Foundation – underwent tough changes in October. They will almost surely survive, more than can be said for two Bay Area-based dog media outlets – “Fetch” the paper and a top-notch website called “Woof Report.” Both have ceased publication indefinitely. We wish the people behind the scenes well and thank them for their service to the local canine community.
Rounding out the mix this month are articles on managing canine diabetes, how raising a dog is like raising a child, one lucky dog’s airplane rescue, and making sure your aging dog stays as comfortable and mobile as possible.
As I write this, the first big storm of the season has settled in. It’s definitely fall, the perfect season for sitting in a cozy café, reading Bay Woof and pondering the dubious delights of dog politics. Enjoy!
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