• mp3 Assemblymember Lieu says animal shelters are being overwhelmed with pet drop offs.

• mp3 Assemblymember Lieu provides a few reasons why adopting a shelter pet is such a good idea.

• mp3 Assemblymember Lieu says the number of animals euthanized last year is staggering.

• mp3 Assemblymember Lieu calls on the Governor to sign his legislation, AB 1122, that would ban the roadside sale of pets.

(Sacramento) - Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) is urging Californians to consider adopting dogs and cats from local animal shelters to relieve overcrowding and save these animals from certain euthanization.

“Every day, thousands of dogs and cats have to be killed because there is simply no room for them to stay in the shelters for more than a few days,” said Assemblymember Lieu. “Adopting a pet from an animal shelter and caring for that pet for the rest of its life is a responsible way to relieve the overcrowding of these pets at animal shelters. The foreclosure crisis in California has also led to a surge in otherwise healthy pets being put into shelters.”

Assemblymember Lieu joined animal rights advocates at a State Capitol rally yesterday to urge support of Assembly Concurrent Resolution 91, which declares the month of September 2009 as “Adopt a Shelter Pet Month.” ACR 91 received unanimous support from the Assembly and is awaiting consideration by the Senate.

In 2008, the annual number of dogs and cats entering California municipal shelters increased 14.6 percent statewide from 2004, an increase from 729,238 to 835,642 pets. Because many of these animals were not reclaimed by their owners or adopted by new owners, nearly half had to be put down. The California Department of Public Health reported that in 2008 over 400,000 cats and dogs were euthanized at municipal shelters. This high figure does not include animals that are euthanized in private shelters or rescue groups.

“It would make such a difference if people adopted from shelters, an existing population, rather than encouraging unscrupulous breeders to make more,” said Madeline Bernstein, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Los Angeles (spcaLA).

“Many people across the country are forced to give up their pets due to the bad economy,” added Jill Buckley, senior director of Government Relations for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). “In California alone, there are hundreds of thousands of shelter animals in need of homes. By assisting animal shelters in promoting ‘Adopt a Shelter Pet Month,’ we can help alleviate the issue of pet overpopulation and hope to find as many forever homes for shelter animals.”

“In most instances, these dogs and cats are young, healthy, and friendly animals that are euthanized simply because there are not enough good homes for them,” said Assemblymember Lieu. “In addition, budget reductions have increased the strain on local animal shelter systems, threatening the lives of thousands of animals. This is why it is more important than ever to help local animal shelters by adopting a pet.”