Letter of Support:

       Cats International is a non-profit educational organization that is dedicated to helping cat owners better understand their cat's behavior and how to humanely modify the behavior when necessary. It is estimated that 50-70% of the animals in shelters and pounds are there due to behavior problems that owners couldn't or wouldn't resolve. We have an informative website (http://www.catsinternational.org/) as well as a free cat behavior hotline (262-375-8852).

       We receive approximately 5.000 calls every year. Over the 15 years that we have provided this service, we have received a number of calls from concerned citizens describing inhumane conditions in which cats were housed in a particular pet facility. Unfortunately, there is little or nothing that can be done to help these animals as there is no protective legislation which requires minimum standards of care in our state. The Pet Facilities Law (AB 536) would provide a basis for corrective action to be taken in cases where dogs, cats, and other companion animals are not being properly cared for in pet facilities. Humane legislation needs the unselfish support of everyone who cares about animals.