AB1801 Pavley !SIGNED! Guide/Assistance Dogs

!UPDATE! AB 1801 Signed Into Law! CDR Supported this measure.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2004
CONTACT: Sean PetersenTELEPHONE: (916) 319-2041
Pavley Bill Stiffens PenaltiesFor Attacks on Guide and Service Dogs(Woodland Hills, CA) - As hard as it is to imagine, working service dogs areall too often the victims of interference and attacks by other dogs that areallowed to run loose or whose owners will not control them. Service dogshave changed the lives and personal freedom of countless people who arefortunate enough to be partnered with these extraordinary animals.Incidents of attacks on the dogs and/or their owners can be devastating, andsome attacks have resulted in the early retirement or death of the dogs.
A bill to increase penalties for attacks on guide and service dogs was chaptered into law today, with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's signature.
AB 1801 authored by Assemblymember Fran Pavley and sponsored by theCalifornia Council for the Blind will go into effect January 1, 2005. "Myfamily has raised guide dog puppies," said Assemblymember Fran Pavley."Several of them have come back into our lives after being retired. Hearingthe horror stories about unprovoked and terrifying attacks on a service dogor its blind or disabled owner is very personal. I felt strongly that thepenalties for these totally avoidable incidents had to be strengthened. Thestories just kept coming in to my office."An Orange County resident with limited vision saw only a blur coming at himwhen a runner and large dog ran past him. The runner's dog attacked and therunner kept going, leaving behind the bleeding guide dog with a section ofits ear missing. Another person who was totally blind and dependent onguide dogs for 30 years could only feel and hear the savage attack going onand was powerless to do anything to stop it. Two Akitas nearly killed aMedical Companion dog in Simi Valley, forcing the dog into retirementbecause of its injuries."The passage of this legislation will greatly improve the ability of blindand visually impaired, and other individuals using guide, signal and otherservice animals to travel safely on our public rights-of-way," said DanKysor, Director of Governmental Affairs with the California Council of theBlind.AB 1801 does the following:. Expands coverage of the bill from just guide dogs to include signal dogs,service dogs, and mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers.. Increases the criminal penalties for a person who permits any dog, whichis owned by him or her, to cause injury to or the death of any guide,signal, or service dog. The crime can now be considered a misdemeanor ifthe person acted with reckless disregard in the exercise of control over hisor her dog.. Increases the penalties for any person who intentionally causes injury toor the death of any guide, signal, or service dog while the dog is acting inthe discharge of its duties to one year in the county jail, a maximum fineof $10,000, or both.. Allows restitution of monetary damages to be ordered by a court, includingveterinary bills, replacement costs or other costs deemed appropriate, ifthe dog is disabled or killed."There needed to be serious consequences when the owners of dogs behaverecklessly or callously, and change lives in such a terrifying anddevastating way. I was proud to author this bill," concluded Pavley.
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The California Council of the Blind, CCB, the largest and oldest consumer advocacy organization of people who are blind and visually impaired in this state strongly urge your signature on AB1801, Pavley.
As sponsors of AB 1801, we know that people with disabilities including persons who are blind or visually impaired have the right to travel safely without interference from uncontrolled dogs and from humans. Increasingly, persons who are blind or visually impaired are subjected to incidents of interference and dog attacks. These incidents can and do result in physical and psychological injury to blind or visually impaired individuals andtheir guide dogs, which may result in the early retirement or death of these guide dogs. Similar incidents are also on the rise with respect to those with other disabilities.

California Council of the Blind
Dan Kysor
DirectorGovernmental Affairs
225 15th Street
West Sacramento, Ca. 95691

http://www.ccbnet.org