Tonight's Rally in San Jose and AB1634

I am hearing a lot of noise regarding AB 1634 and people thinking that tonights rally is just about trying to pass such legislation. It saddens me that what I believe to be a very important and simple rally will be bombarded by people protesting. I don't know if there is any truth to the AB 1634 claim, I do know that there was no such information in the fliers given to me through the animal shelter. I have no doubt that there will be some AB 1634 supports there but I am fairly confident that they are coming on their own accord and not on the encouragement of the organizers and to speak for the majority of rally supporters.

I am copying a post made by Kathleen Flynn on answers.yahoo.com in response to claims regarding AB 1634 being the key issue at tonights Rally in San Jose:

My name is Kathleen Flynn. I am the organizer of this rally and vigil in San Jose, California. There is a lot of misinformation out there about what this rally and vigil is about. Here is what the rally is about:
* It is to honor animal rescuers for their love and dedication of animals, and to ask the public to help us by both volunteering as foster homes, or to donate their time, or money to help us save more animals from dying in shelters.
* To ask the public to VOLUNTARILY low cost spay/neuter their pets in our low cost spay/neuter clinic to help us reduce the killing of healthy adoptable pets in our shelters. 71% of all healthy adoptable cats/kittens, and 56% of dogs and puppies surrendered to shelters are killed because there are not enough homes, or space in shelters.
* To ask State Law Makers to mandate that every City and County in California fund VOLUNTARY low cost spay/neuter clinics and programs.
*To ask the public to be careful when adopting a pet because it is indeed a lifetime commitment.
* The vigil is to remember the many animals we could not save, and that have died and will die in our shelters.
Breeders are misinformed, and have not checked out the facts. When they show up in force, they will be embarrassed when they hear the speeches given.

Additional Comments: I am a firm believer in freedom of choice. I would like to say that people do the right thing when it comes to animals, but they don't. What one person considers humane, or none abusive is not always true, or good for animals. As a rescuer and advocate, I can tell you that it hurts my heart to think about the many animals I can not, nor will I ever save from death in shelters. Deaths that need not have happened if people who had unfixed animals kept them from procreating, or fixed them. It is easy to say that rescuers are nuts, and will end all animal species if we get people to fix their pets because these folks don't walk through shelters looking into the eyes of these trusting animals, and know that they can't take them all home. It hurts people and it is a pain I can not convey to you in mere words.
Having said that, I have friends who are responsible breeders. They love their animals, and treat them very well. They are also very careful who they sell a dog or cat to. But they are the exception to the rule. Backyard breeders and puppy mills are a disgrace and they really need to be put out of business. So whether you are a credible breeder, or a responsible pet guardian with an unfixed pet, or an animal rescuer, we can all agree on one thing, backyard breeders have to go, and healthy adoptable animals dying by the millions in shelters everyday, should not have to pay the price for human ignorance, and selfishness.
ADD: No mention of the AB1634 Mandatory Spay/Neuter Bill has been approved by me. The speakers have been asked NOT to bring that issue into this vigil, or rally. If someone does bring it up then they have their own, unapproved agenda to push, and should be ashamed of themselves for deferring the rally and vigil a way from its true intent and purpose. And that intent is the plight of rescuers, and honoring dying animals in our shelters.

Animal Advocates Rally in San Jose on Feb 26th @ 6 pm

A Rally in San Jose for the Animals Feb 26th

Please join animal rescuers and advocates from all over the county of Santa Clara in front of San Jose City Hall, Tuesday, Feb. 26th, and Tuesday, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., for a rally and candle lit vigil.

*Key Note Speaker Will Be:*

*Vice Mayor Cortese*

*Supervisor Pete McHugh*

*Rosi Murko of Town Cats*

*Heather Betchel of Rabbit Haven*

*Vivian A. Kennedy of ACGSR, Inc. *

*Delorme McKee- Stovall will give the blessing and read Rainbow Bridge at
the candle lit vigil. *

*The rally is being held to let the community know the importance of spaying and neutering
their pets, and how they can help us stop the killing of animals in shelters. To bring attention to the plight of animal rescue groups everywhere in California, who are being overwhelmed by the amount of unwanted pets being surrendered by the community, the increase of feral cats, and by our partnerships with shelters who are asking for help in taking in their overflow of surrendered animals. To bring attention to the overwhelming amount of animals being surrendered to shelters, and the amount of money it is costing cities, counties, taxpayers, and this State to house these displaced animals. To bring to the attention of State lawmakers that they need to mandate that all counties and cities in California, need to provide low cost spay/neuter programs, and provide much needed spay/neuter education to the public, so we can stop the needless killing of healthy adoptable animals in our shelters.*

*Please widely circulate this flier, and bring as many people as you can! We need to be taken seriously, and make a strong impact on the community about the amount of animals dying in our shelters, and to push for low cost, effective spay neuter programs in cities and counties everywhere! *

* We will meet outside San Jose City Hall located at 200 E. Santa Clara Street, San Jose, Ca. 95113, by the fountains facing Santa Clara Street promptly at 5:45, and begin at 6 p.m. Please bring YOUR OWN sign saying something like, " Please spay/neuter your pets, it saves lives," as none will be provided for you. *

*Parking: You can park in the garage under City Hall, and get your parking ticket validated inside the Council Meeting in Council Chambers, or you can park across the street in the shopping center parking lot. There are several other garages close to City Hall that are free after 6pm.*

The candle lit vigil will be held at 7-7:30 p.m. Please bring a candle to light in honor of animals who have and will die in shelters because there is not enough room to house them, or homes to place them. Please bring any poems, or songs you'd like to read or sing.*

*I will have a box of spay/neuter coupons for San Jose's low cost program, in different languages to pass out at the demonstration. If you live in this county and you have some from your city, PLEASE bring them. Please bring a table if you want to distribute spay/neuter info, or any educational materials. You will be responsible for your own set up and clean up. *

*Once you get this, please confirm your attendance, and pass this on to your e-list!* Please contact me, Kathleen at bearkats1@juno. com for additional information, or for questions. I want to thank you all for your support on this. Let's fight for the animals together as one loud voice in an attempt to stop the needless killing in shelters everywhere!*

Please, spay/neuter your pets, it saves lives!
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