Best Friends Animal Society/Supporters Celebrate Assembly Passage of Bill to Give Canine Survivors of Dog Fighting a Second Chance

Assembly Bill 1825 passed on vote of 75 to 0

Sacramento, CA (May 5, 2016) Today Best Friends Animal Society, the only national animal welfare organization dedicated exclusively to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters, is celebrating the Assembly passage of California Assembly Bill 1825, which eliminates the arbitrary "vicious" designation from dogs seized from convicted dog fighters. Supporters of the bill celebrating with Best Friends include the California Chiefs of Police Association, California Animal Control Directors Association, and numerous organizations, animal shelters, unions, businesses and local governments from around the state.

"Best Friends Animal Society appreciates the humanitarian efforts of the sponsors, organizations, and local governments who are supporting AB 1825," said Ledy VanKavage, senior legislative attorney for Best Friends Animal Society. "We are hopeful that the Senate will move quickly to pass the legislation and that Governor Brown will sign it into law."

Best Friends, the organization that took in the 22 dogs from Michael Vick's fighting operation deemed by the court system to be the most difficult cases, sponsored efforts to gain passage of AB 1825, introduced in February by Assemblymembers Rich Gordon (D-San Mateo) and Brian Maienschein (R-San Diego) and coauthored by another 20 state legislators.

Current California is one of only 11 states with a that law mandates that canine victims of cruelty seized and taken into custody in connection with convicted dog fighters are to be automatically deemed "vicious," regardless of their behavior or age.

If AB 1825 is enacted, dogs seized in connection with convicted dog fighters would get a second chance at life.

A February screening in Sacramento of The Champions documentary, an inspirational film about the pit bull terriers rescued from Michael Vick, helped to broaden awareness about pit bull terrier-like dogs, and likely increased support for AB 1825.

About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is the only national animal welfare organization dedicated exclusively to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. A leader in the no-kill movement, Best Friends runs the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals, adoption centers and spay and neuter facilities in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City as well as lifesaving programs in partnership with more than 1,300 rescue groups and shelters across the country. Since its founding in 1984, Best Friends has helped reduce the number of animals killed in American shelters from 17 million per year to an estimated 4 million. By continuing to build effective initiatives that reduce the number of animals entering shelters and increase the number who find homes, Best Friends and its nationwide network of members and partners are working to Save Them All®.

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