Supporters of the Animal Shelter Transparency Act say it will save California's animals by encouraging people to adopt pets that have been euthanized.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Animal rights activist and Congressman Kevin McCarty stood on the steps of the Capitol Wednesday calling for legislation aimed at reducing the number of adoptable pets at risk of euthanasia. .
The Animal Shelter Transparency Act would require public animal shelters to notify the community before killing animals that are not irreversibly sick or injured.
Shelters would also be required to prioritize spay/neuter resources and notify before adopting policies or procedures that violate state animal protection laws.
“California has said for decades that it is a 'no-kill' state, but animal shelters have not always followed that practice. [this bill] It would do just that,” said McCarty, the bill’s author.
Fix Our Shelters is a coalition of animal rights activists who supported McCarty in writing the bill. Many stood with him on the steps of the Capitol. They held up placards with pictures of dogs saying they had been euthanized.
“When people know that animals' lives are at risk, they can save lives,” said Julie Virga, a member of Fix Hour Shelters.
McCarty said community members from different backgrounds and professions came together as a coalition with a passion to save animals.
“They're coming up with proposals on how to save animals and amend state law to make sure people can adopt these animals before they're culled,” he said. “That's common sense.”
See more: More than 100 animals in Sacramento County need your help finding their forever homes
