Call to Action for Californians – Support Animals of the Homeless
Bill SB-344 would require to Department of Housing and Community Development to create “a program to award grants to qualified homeless shelters…for the provision of shelter, food, and basic veterinary services for pets owned by people experiencing homelessness.”
This bill could save animal lives by reducing the number of pets surrendered to animal shelters or abandoned on the street because their care givers could not keep them in government provided living facilities or motels. It would also benefit those people who choose to live in cars or outdoors so that they can keep their pets by offering a safe, climate-controlled option for them and their beloved companions.
The bill has been held for review and discussion in the Committee on Appropriations since August 26th. Alley Cat Rescue is committed to reducing cat homelessness and cat populations in animal shelters, and we would like to see it move forward! You can urge the Committee to take action by sending an Email to approps.committee@assembly.ca.gov, or letter by post to
Assembly Appropriations Committee
State Capitol, Room 2114
Sacramento, California 95814
This bill could save animal lives by reducing the number of pets surrendered to animal shelters or abandoned on the street because their care givers could not keep them in government provided living facilities or motels. It would also benefit those people who choose to live in cars or outdoors so that they can keep their pets by offering a safe, climate-controlled option for them and their beloved companions.
The bill has been held for review and discussion in the Committee on Appropriations since August 26th. Alley Cat Rescue is committed to reducing cat homelessness and cat populations in animal shelters, and we would like to see it move forward! You can urge the Committee to take action by sending an Email to approps.committee@assembly.ca.gov, or letter by post to
Assembly Appropriations Committee
State Capitol, Room 2114
Sacramento, California 95814
Sample Letter Text
Dear Assembly Members:
I am voicing my support for bill SB-344, which has been held up in the Appropriations Committee since August 26, 2021. As a California resident, I am deeply concerned for the wellbeing of my fellow Californians who are experiencing, or on the verge of experiencing, homelessness. As an advocate for animal welfare, I am equally concerned about the fate of the animals in these people’s care.
Bill SB-344 is needed to protect homeless people and animals alike from suffering in unsafe living conditions. People should not be forced to choose between taking advantage of government-provided living areas and keeping their pet. When they are required to make that choice, many relinquish their animals to already overcrowded shelters, or abandon them. This is tragic and puts the animals’ health and lives at great risk. The alternative choice of living outside in the elements puts everyone, humans and animals’, lives at risk.
This issue is especially pressing now as record numbers of people are experiencing financial hardships from the pandemic, and animal shelters are suffering from reduced staff for the same reason. Please do what is needed to invigorate work on this bill and move it through to the voting process.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your CA city, county]
Dear Assembly Members:
I am voicing my support for bill SB-344, which has been held up in the Appropriations Committee since August 26, 2021. As a California resident, I am deeply concerned for the wellbeing of my fellow Californians who are experiencing, or on the verge of experiencing, homelessness. As an advocate for animal welfare, I am equally concerned about the fate of the animals in these people’s care.
Bill SB-344 is needed to protect homeless people and animals alike from suffering in unsafe living conditions. People should not be forced to choose between taking advantage of government-provided living areas and keeping their pet. When they are required to make that choice, many relinquish their animals to already overcrowded shelters, or abandon them. This is tragic and puts the animals’ health and lives at great risk. The alternative choice of living outside in the elements puts everyone, humans and animals’, lives at risk.
This issue is especially pressing now as record numbers of people are experiencing financial hardships from the pandemic, and animal shelters are suffering from reduced staff for the same reason. Please do what is needed to invigorate work on this bill and move it through to the voting process.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your CA city, county]