State Must Take Action to Control Pet Population

An outpouring of outrage persuaded the governor to cancel misguided plans to repeal the Hayden Act, which extends the mandatory time animals are kept in shelters before they are killed (“Pet Lovers Howl, So Governor Rolls Over,” June 26). But unrestricted companion animal breeding, despite hundreds of thousands of pets being put to death every year, has led to a crisis that must be addressed. The government would like to save money, but the Legislature has been unwilling to take humane, effective action that would control the pet population and save the government much needed funds that are spent on animal holding and extermination. We need restrictions on breeding, and laws that enforce spaying and neutering. Whether to kill animals in three days or six days is not the choice a civilized society should be making.

Karen Dawn

Pacific Palisades

Do Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s children not own pets of any kind? He may have rescinded his original order, but we should log this snafu for constant reference and monitor the governor on issues regarding children, the elderly, the handicapped and minorities. What was he thinking, and did he really for a minute find this a viable method of cutting costs? If yes, what hath he wrought? We have a yikes in the White House. Is there another in the governor’s mansion in California?

Ronald L. Wallace

Sherman Oaks