Our personal journey rescuing Rocky Road from the brink of euthanasia drove us to start this campaign. We’ve seen first hand the tragic reality - healthy animals in California shelters losing their lives when they could have instead been given a chance at finding loving homes.

We need a bill that will manage animal shelter capacity and ban the unnecessary euthanizing of healthy animals. Every year in the United States, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized, with the bulk of these being cats and dogs (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Furthermore, in California alone, it's estimated that over 100,000 animals were euthanized in shelters in 2019 (California Department of Public Health statistics).

These statistics are not just numbers, but represent lives that could have been saved and homes that could have been warmed by the love of a rescued animal companion. New legislation balancing the shelter capacities with a strict check on euthanasia practices is urgently needed. This bill will ensure shelters have the adequate resources to house animals until they find their forever homes.

We urge our California legislators to act now to save our state's shelter animals from unnecessary euthanasia. Let's work together to ensure every animal gets the fighting chance they deserve to live a happy and healthy life. Sign the petition to demonstrate your support for this important cause.

Draft bill components (open to modifications and feedback - please comment):

**Animal Shelter Capacity and Euthanasia Management Act**

**Section 1: Purpose**
This Act aims to regulate the care and euthanasia of animals in California, ensuring humane treatment and adequate shelter capacity management.

**Section 2: Euthanasia Regulations**
(a) Euthanasia of animals is prohibited unless:
   1. They have an untreatable medical condition or untreatable behavior (such as severe aggression).
   2. The condition or behavior has been verified and cleared by a licensed veterinarian.
(b) All decisions regarding euthanasia must be documented, including the veterinarian's certification of the condition or behavior, and retained for a minimum of five years.

**Section 3: Central Database**
(a) **Registration Requirement:**
   1. All shelters, rescues, and humane societies operating within California must register in a central database managed by the state.
(b) **Database Information:**
   1. The database will contain:
      - Shelter information (address, phone number, link to website).
      - Daily capacity of the shelters (available vs. in-use).
      - Detailed records of each animal's status, including intake date, medical history, and adoption or transfer status.
(c) **Reporting Requirement:**
   1. All shelters, rescues, and humane societies must report the number of animals in their care and the number of vacancies by the end of each day.
   2. Reports must be submitted electronically through a standardized reporting system provided by the state.

**Section 4: Capacity Management**
(a) When a shelter, rescue, or humane society reaches 90% of its capacity:
   1. The facility must initiate a transfer of animals to nearby facilities with available space.
   2. Transfers will be coordinated based on proximity and current vacancy rates.
(b) The state shall establish a protocol for the safe and humane transfer of animals, including necessary health checks and transport conditions.

**Section 5: Nonprofit Organization**
(a) **Database Maintenance:**
   1. A nonprofit organization(s) chosen by the state will be responsible for maintaining the central database.
   2. The nonprofit organization(s) must have experience in animal welfare and data management.
(b) **Transportation Support:**
   1. The nonprofit organization(s) will provide logistical support for the transportation of animals as needed.
   2. This includes coordination with shelters, rescues, and humane societies to ensure timely and safe transfers.
   3. The nonprofit organization(s) will also manage a transportation fund to assist with costs associated with animal transfers.

**Section 6: Funding and Resources**
(a) The state shall allocate funds to support the implementation of this Act, including:
   1. Grants to shelters, rescues, and humane societies for capacity expansion and improvement.
   2. Funding for the nonprofit organization(s) managing the database and transportation support.
(b) Additional resources may be sought through partnerships with private donors, foundations, and other relevant stakeholders.

**Section 7: Enforcement and Penalties**
(a) The state agency responsible for animal welfare shall oversee the enforcement of this Act.
(b) Any shelter, rescue, or humane society found in violation of the provisions of this Act shall be subject to penalties, including but not limited to:
   1. Fines not exceeding $10,000 per violation.
   2. Suspension or revocation of operational licenses.
   3. Mandatory corrective actions as determined by the state agency.

**Section 8: Public Awareness and Education**
(a) The state shall implement a public awareness campaign to educate the public about the provisions of this Act.
(b) Educational materials and resources will be provided to shelters, rescues, and humane societies to promote compliance and best practices.

**Section 9: Effective Date**
This Act shall take effect 180 days after its enactment.

**Section 10: Severability**
If any provision of this Act or the application thereof is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the Act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end, the provisions of this Act are severable.

**We plan to submit this once the new legislative year starts**