"The reason why so many dogs have to be put down is because America isn't spaying and neutering their pets." - Oprah Winfrey

April 6, 2008

Dear Friends,

I have some big news to share with you, in case you missed it...

INCREDIBLE OPRAH SHOW EXPOSES BREEDERS AND FOCUSES ATTENTION ON MASSIVE PET OVERPOPULATION

This week's groundbreaking Oprah show exposing puppy mills and the relationship of cruel breeders to pet stores has opened up a new conversation across our state and country. E-mails have been pouring into www.CAHealthyPets.com from responsible pet owners, excited about the nationwide exposure, and my phone is ringing off the hook with AB 1634 supporters invigorated by the program. Thank you, Oprah, for focusing the country's attention on the tragedy of massive pet overpopulation.

In the incredible, heart wrenching expose, Bill Smith and Lisa Ling visit Oprah and discuss hidden camera footage they took of "high volume" breeders, also known as puppy mills. These breeders can have hundreds of dogs, and often times the breeding females live their entire lives in small wire cages, never even walking on solid ground.

Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of HSUS, is asked by Oprah if it's true that "99% of the animals in pet stores come from puppy mills". Wayne says "There's just no question about it. No responsible pet owner is going to sell their animals to a pet store." Virtually all dogs and cats in pet stores come from puppy mills.

During the show, Oprah urges viewers to bypass breeders and instead adopt their pet from rescue groups or local animal shelters. And, incredibly, the program actually takes viewers inside a euthanasia room to see a dog euthanized, just as over half a million healthy pets are killed in California's shelters each year. She urges her viewers to have their pets spayed & neutered, saying:

"The reason why there's so many dogs that have to go through that euthanasia process every day is because we-the people who are supposed to be with the thinking brain-are not using our brains to do what is necessary to protect the animals."

OPRAH'S VET EXPLAINS THE BENEFITS OF EARLY SPAY & NEUTER

Later in the show, Oprah's vet visits to explain the health benefits of early spay & neuter. Here is the text, straight from the show's website:

Dr. Shelly Rubin - who treats Oprah's dogs - says spaying or neutering is one of the best things you can do for your pet's health.

For males, Dr. Rubin says neutering can change the dog's behavior for the better. "There's no question that if you neuter a male dog, you're going to do several things. One, you'll reduce prostate cancer and testicular cancer," he says. "Most important, you'll make that dog a really good house pet because it won't be chasing after females in the neighborhood. It listens to you when you speak to it, and it won't be marking urine all over the neighborhood-and your house-in many cases."

For females, Dr. Rubin says it's best to spay them before first heat. "If you spay them before their first heat, and this is scientifically proven, you can reduce the incidence of breast cancer when they're older by somewhere near 90 percent," he says. "So why wouldn't we want to spay and neuter our pets?"

Dr. Rubin says spaying and neutering are very simple procedures. After a quick exam to make sure the animal is healthy enough for surgery, it's given a sedative and anesthesia. The procedure take about 10 to 15 minutes, and the animal can go home that day. "While it costs some money to do it on a private level, there are many, many free or low-cost spay and neuter clinics all over the United States," he says. "That cannot be an excuse for not spaying or neutering your pet."

And, Dr. Rubin explains that 6 months of age is "the perfect time to be neutered". AB 1634 asks that pets be spayed & neutered by 6 months of age, although the procedure may be deferred if the owner's vet thinks it is too early for a particular dog or cat.

PLEASE THANK OPRAH!

This groundbreaking episode of Oprah is probably the first time that many people have learned about: the horrors of mass breeding and pet stores, the benefits of spay & neuter, and the scores of healthy, adoptable pets patiently waiting for homes in rescues and shelters across our country. Please thank Oprah for her incredible show. A brief note is all that is required to ensure this issue will continue to receive the spotlight it deserves in our media.

>> Click here to contact Oprah >>

Thanks for caring. Together, we truly will make life better for Californians and our pets.

Judie Mancuso
Sponsor / Campaign Director
AB 1634 California Healthy Pets Act
www.CAHealthyPets.com