Social Compassion in Legislation

UPDATE: California is facing a DIRE SHORTAGE of Veterinarians (DVMs) and Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) - driving the costs of caring for our beloved companion animals to staggering heights. SCIL is working to expedite licensing for out-of-state veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians to help solve this problem. As we hear from the veterinary community, factors such as inflation and a labor shortage have led to increased salaries, while the consolidation of small practices into large corporations has only exacerbated the situation. And, depending on your zip code, there is also plain old price gouging. This financial burden weighs heavily not just on everyday Californians but also on the dedicated rescue community which tirelessly works to save countless cats, dogs, rabbits, and other animals abandoned in public shelters. One of SCIL's sponsored bills in 2023, ACR 86, resolved to encourage out-of-state DVMs and RVTs to become licensed in California in order to deliver life saving spay and neuter services and other medical procedures. As a part of SCIL's continued work on this important effort, yesterday we brought together Animal Balance, a provider of high-volume spay and neuter services, and members of the California Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) to walk through the licensing process required for out-of-state DVMs and RVTs to become licensed in California. The goal was to demystify the application process and identify any bottlenecks. A huge thank you to the VMB Executive Officer, Jessica Sieferman, and the entire VMB team for taking the time to meet with us, and to Emma Clifford of Animal Balance for sharing some of the challenges the out-of-state DVMs her organization employs have faced when trying to get licensed in California. The VMB has worked on simplifying the process, and this meeting helped to clarify the specific steps. Below summarizes what an out-of-state DVM needs to do in order to get licensed in California. It comes down to five steps for DVMs that have taken the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) within the previous 5-years: Provide the applicant's NAVLE to the VMB. Pay fees: $350 application fee, $500 license fee. Submit fingerprints. Take the Veterinary Law Examination (VLE), which can be taken online at anytime and is "open book" - $100 fee. License verification from all other states from which the applicant is licensed in.

UPDATE: California is facing a DIRE SHORTAGE of Veterinarians (DVMs) and Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) - driving the costs of caring for our beloved companion animals to staggering heights. SCIL is working to expedite licensing for out-of-state veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians to help solve this problem. As we hear from the veterinary community, factors such as inflation and a labor shortage have led to increased salaries, while the consolidation of small practices into large corporations has only exacerbated the situation. And, depending on your zip code, there is also plain old price gouging. This financial burden weighs heavily not just on everyday Californians but also on the dedicated rescue community which tirelessly works to save countless cats, dogs, rabbits, and other animals abandoned in public shelters. One of SCIL's sponsored bills in 2023, ACR 86, resolved to encourage out-of-state DVMs and RVTs to become licensed in California in order to deliver life saving spay and neuter services and other medical procedures. As a part of SCIL's continued work on this important effort, yesterday we brought together Animal Balance, a provider of high-volume spay and neuter services, and members of the California Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) to walk through the licensing process required for out-of-state DVMs and RVTs to become licensed in California. The goal was to demystify the application process and identify any bottlenecks. A huge thank you to the VMB Executive Officer, Jessica Sieferman, and the entire VMB team for taking the time to meet with us, and to Emma Clifford of Animal Balance for sharing some of the challenges the out-of-state DVMs her organization employs have faced when trying to get licensed in California. The VMB has worked on simplifying the process, and this meeting helped to clarify the specific steps. Below summarizes what an out-of-state DVM needs to do in order to get licensed in California. It comes down to five steps for DVMs that have taken the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) within the previous 5-years: Provide the applicant's NAVLE to the VMB. Pay fees: $350 application fee, $500 license fee. Submit fingerprints. Take the Veterinary Law Examination (VLE), which can be taken online at anytime and is "open book" - $100 fee. License verification from all other states from which the applicant is licensed in.

CALL TO ACTION :: SAVE THE TULE ELK! Email the President and Vice President of the Cattleman’s Association President Steve Arnold: [email protected] Vice President Rick Roberti: [email protected] Tell them to drop their cruel lawsuit against the National Park Service and allow for the continued removal of the fencing to save the Tule Elk! Be respectful in your emails, but convey that after 50 years it is time to put the well-being of the Tule Elk above their special interests. UPDATE ON TULE ELK AT TOMALES POINT In September of 2020 we asked you to help us contact the National Park Service (NPS) calling on them to immediately provide water and remove fencing that prevented the Tule Elk from accessing water sources during the horrific drought and fire season. Activists at that time had documented at least half a dozen dead elk over the recent weeks. Despite the four year delay, the NPS has finally done the right thing and started dismantling the fence. However, the California Cattlemen’s Association has filed a lawsuit to stop the National Park Service (NPS) from removing a 2-mile elk fence at Point Reyes National Seashore. The fence, erected nearly 50 years ago to keep tule elk away from nearby ranches, is being dismantled to allow the elk to roam freely. Ranchers argue that this will harm their operations by causing elk to damage crops and spread diseases, and they claim the NPS did not conduct a proper environmental review. Environmentalists, however, argue the fence violates public land protection laws. A federal judge is expected to decide soon on whether to halt the removal. Thank you for taking action to help the Tule Elk! Learn more; https://lnkd.in/gqfmE5mR

Learn more about how Social Compassion is teaming up with the Los Angeles Angels to help get animals adopted in Orange County;

Check out our Founder, JUDIE MANCUSO's autobiography being published by Amplify!

Dear friends, For years, many of you have said to me, "Judie, you should write a book!" I always felt like it would be an enormous challenge—like climbing a mountain. Well, I’m thrilled to say that I’ve finally made that climb. I’m proud to announce the release of my book, Because They Need Us: My Political Fight to Save Animals. Over the past 21 months, I’ve poured my heart into documenting the trials and triumphs of my journey in animal and environmental advocacy. The book spans from my early days rescuing dogs and cats after Hurricane Katrina to my present-day battles in the political arena of Sacramento. I am humbled to have such positive reviews from giants in our community and for whom I have so much respect and gratitude. Of course, none of this work was done alone. Throughout the book, I’ve captured the efforts of so many of you who stood alongside me, fighting for animals. Many of you are featured in its pages. While it wasn’t possible to include every story or person, please know that I deeply appreciate every single one of you who has contributed—whether it was through donations, calls to political representatives, lobbying at the Capitol, or supporting the cause in any other way. I hope my story will inspire others to get politically engaged, whether for animals or any other issue close to their hearts. 100% of the proceeds from the book will support SCIL. Get your copy, including shipping, with a minimum donation of $30. Click this link to make your donation and get your book today! https://lnkd.in/gbhX6x52 Because They Need Us will be available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as in-stores, by the end of the year. But don't wait! Get yours today directly from us by clicking the link above and making your donation. #animalrights #cats #dogs #wildlife #Politics #california #bookrecommendations #library #spayandneuteryourpets #vegan #plantbased #caleg #animals #adoptdontshop #lobbyist #advocacy #lagunabeach #veterinarian

Dear Friends: In observation of World Heart Day, our sister organization, Social Compassion, a 501(c)(3), is proud to invite you on Saturday, September 28th, to a free event you won’t want to miss - a screening of The Game Changers at 6:30PM followed by a panel discussion with the star of the movie, James Wilks, our own Judie Mancuso, Dr. Aaron Spitz, Dr. Amanda Brown Tortorici, and Jane Velez-Mitchell at Rivian’s historic and beautiful Rivian South Coast Theater. Executive produced by James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jackie Chan, The Game Changers follows James Wilks – elite Special Forces trainer and winner of The Ultimate Fighter – whose world is turned upside down when he discovers a group of world-renowned athletes and scientists who show him that most of what he’d been taught about protein was a lie. Directed by Oscar-winner Louie Psihoyos, The Game Changers mixes real-time, groundbreaking science with cinematic stories of struggle and triumph. The film features some of the strongest, fastest and toughest athletes on the planet – and it’s backed by them too – with additional EPs including Lewis Hamilton, Novak Djokovic, and Chris Paul. Wilks’ journey exposes outdated myths about food that not only affect human performance, but the health of the entire global population. If you want to join us, you must RSVP asap - seating is limited! Hope to see you on September 28th in Laguna Beach! RSVP at the link below! https://lnkd.in/gZjGp9x5

Breaking News! AB 3162 passes the full Senate and now goes to the Governor for his signature! On Monday, AB 3162, authored by Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) and cosponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation and Animal Legal Defense Fund , passed the full Senate with a vote of 37-0. The bill will proactively ban octopus farming and also make California the first state to ban the sale of farmed octopus. Our European allies, who are fighting to stop a proposed octopus farm in Spain, are elated that California is taking this stand. They have shared with us that California policy is heavily considered by their own lawmakers which helps in their grassroots efforts. This is another example which shows as California goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the world. Methods of slaughtering octopi have historically been highly inhumane, including clubbing, slicing, asphyxiation, and chilling. These animals have significant cognitive abilities and can learn new skills, navigate complex mazes, are known escape artists, and even use tools. Intensively confining these highly intelligent, solitary animals in unnatural farming conditions is inhumane and almost certain to result in stress, aggressive activity, and high mortality. In addition to animal welfare concerns, octopus farming could have problematic environmental consequences. Aquaculture facilities for octopi have the potential to create an increased risk of nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, contributing to environmental pollution and potential algal blooms that would create low-oxygen dead zones devoid of life, disrupting local marine ecosystems. Antibiotics and pesticides may also be used to control the spread of disease and presence of parasites — as they already are with sea lice in salmon farms — and these can end up in the diets of wild fish, making them sick and disrupting food chains. Once the bill is officially enrolled with Governor Newsom, we will send out instructions on how to urge him to sign into law. Stay tuned! Thank you, Senator Dave Min , for presenting AB 3162 on the Senate floor! #animalrights #octopus #caleg #ocean #marinelife #aquaculture #california #politics

Join JUDIE MANCUSO of Social Compassion in Legislation and Jake Davis of the Nonhuman Rights Project as they discuss animal rights law and legislation this Friday from 12-1pm PST! Register for the online discussion using the QR code in the photo or go to the San Diego Bar Association website at: https://lnkd.in/gjWckCaw... #animalrights #caleg #california #dogs #cats #wildlife #animals #lawstudent #politics #humane #spayandneuter #sentience

We are so proud of our founder and president, JUDIE MANCUSO! This endorsement is no surprise given Judie's years of advocacy for the environment and, of course, animals! From the Jane Fonda Climate PAC announcement: "Longtime environmentalist and leader on the Laguna Beach Environmental Sustainability Committee since 2019, Judie Mancuso will always fight to protect our climate and natural spaces." "Judie has demonstrated climate leadership over her decades of service by fighting to preserve California’s heritage trees, and stopping an effort to build an LNG terminal off the coast of Malibu. She also founded a legislative nonprofit that advocates successfully for animal rights and environmental protections — they've sponsored 25 bills that ultimately became law — and led the charge to ensure the US upheld its support of the commercial whaling moratorium." https://lnkd.in/gRNfpBhi