With the introduction of his 2020-2021 Budget Plan, California Governor Gavin Newsom took a $50 million dollar step towards advancing efforts to end the unfathomable euthanasia of healthy or treatable dogs and cats in California’s animal shelters.
Currently, more than 100,000 animals are still euthanized each year in shelters. Shockingly, California placed second only after Texas for having the largest number of animal deaths in shelters in 2019.
This is completely unacceptable and Governor Newsom agrees.
That is why on January 10th of this year, Governor Newsom put forward the first proposal in California’s history that aims to ensure that all California animal shelters have access to the training and resources that are necessary to transform them into no-kill shelters.
If approved, as per the Governor’s request, The University of California Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program (KSMP) will implement this ambitious initiative.
“Woof-woof-hooray,” the office of the Governor of California shared on its Twitter account. “Governor @GavinNewsom dedicated $50 million to the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program to give CA’s animal shelters the training and resources they need to meet the state’s no-kill goal in 5 years.”
If approved by the legislature, the Governor’s $50 million dollar investment in homeless animals and the shelters that serve them will provide:
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$37.5 million over five years in local assistance funds for California animal shelters that want to participate
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Prioritized investment and direct professional engagement with animal shelters in underresourced and overburdened communities
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Regional best-practice summits open to all animal sheltering personnel
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Access to the most current research and shelter management plans available, as well as the subject matter experts who pioneered the veterinary medicine field that concentrates on the health and well-being of animals living in shelters
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Interactive group training that guarantees that shelters have access to best-practice protocols
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A robust resource library complete with sample forms, protocols, case studies, policies, and tool kit
“With their years of knowledge and experience in the field, and their innovative, cost-effective approaches to shelter consultations, KSMP is in a unique position to help the governor achieve his goals,” noted a statement on the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program website
You can help all animals and our planet by choosing compassion on your plate and in your glass. #GoVeg
