Save California Pets from Unjust Seizure!


State hearings on November 5th, 2009 could eliminate due process and allow officers to seize pets if they “look” related to a wild animal.This affects any “wolfy” looking canine, i.e. Tamaskans, Utonagans, Siberian Husky, German Shepherds, Northern Inuit Dog, Akitas, Belgian Shepherds….

Fish and Game Commission hearings on November 5th are reviewing regulations that will enable the state and local animal regulation to seize your pets, force you to provide containment systems that most people cannot meet, and eliminate the need to prove that the animal is the regulated species. These “hybrid defense” regulations specifically authorize the officers and wardens to determine whether your pet is a regulated species without the burden of proof, and require the application of the “most protective” standard.

For our loved ones, this means that your pet can be determined to be a wild animal — such as wolf, coyote, or other — simply by visual inspection.  No scientific standards or tests are required — in fact, the regulations are written in order to “relieve the burden” of proof.   Your 99% Malamute may be subjectively determined to be 1% wolf, so full wolf rules would apply.

Most cities and counties in California use these Fish and Game Commission manuals as their guide for animal control and seizure.  Most currently use such rational measures to determine whether an animal is dangerous, but now would have their procedures based on instructions that say they should or must apply the standard of the wild species, and to use the higher level of protection (such as the containment and permits applicable to full wolves).  Your white shepherd may be picked up for getting out of the yard, and you might find yourself forced to build enclosures that won’t fit on your property, or even choosing to move to another county instead of putting your pet to sleep.

Potential costs of the new regulations have been understated. The Fiscal Impact Statement for the Proposed Regulations describe this as having no private sector costs, specifically stating that there is no expected financial impact to individuals.  There are an estimated 300,000 – 500,000 dogs that are likely to have some recent wolf ancestry in the United States, and many millions of Northern breeds, German shepherds, and other wolf-like breeds.  We can expect that tens of thousands of California households can be impacted by these onerous regulations, at high financial and emotional cost.

Breed bans and the increasingly widespread practice by insurance companies to deny homeowners’ coverage for certain dog breeds virtually guarantee euthanasia of otherwise adoptable dogs by shelters and humane societies. Laws that deny insurance coverage also force responsible home owners/pet guardians to choose between a beloved family pet and insurance for their home—a choice no one should be compelled to make.

- ASPCA Position Statement on Breed-Specific Bans:

The proposed regulations could be applied by insurance companies to your wolfy-looking dog!  Most insurance companies ask what breed of dog you have before they can offer you an insurance policy, and exclude specific breeds – no laws required.  Now they could use F&G standards to declare your homeowners policy void.